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THE  FIRST  LADIES'  HALL. 
The  second  building,  erected  in  1834,  was  the  Ladies'  Hall  of  the  early  times,^a  three-story  wood 
en  structure,  38x80  feet  in  dimensions,  with  two  projecting  wings.  The  dining  room  afforded  sitting 
for  200  students  and  was  soon  filled  It  stood  west  of  Oberlin  Hall,  in  the  space  between  Seconc 
Church  and  the  east  side  of  College  Place.  It  afforded  room  tor  sixty  young  ladies  serving  its  pur 
pose  for  thirty  years.  On  the  completion  of  the  present  Ladies'  Hall  it  was  divided  into  five  portions 
which  are  now  used  for  dwelling  houses  in  different  parts  of  the  town. 


TAPPAN  HALL. 

Tappan  Hall  was  begun  in  1835  and  was  completed  the  next  year.  It  was  named  after  Arthur 
lappan,  of  New  York,  who  gave  $10,000  for  its  erection.  It  is  of  brick,  and  affords  single  rooms  for 
eighty-seven  students.  Built  in  old  style,  and  lacking  modern  improvements,  it  is  doomed  to  make 
room  for  a  costly  college  building  in  1883.;- 


COLONIAL  HALL. 

In  the  autumu  of  1835  the  above  college  building  was  erected,  Colonial  Hall,  so  named  because 
the  colonists  furnished  most  of  the  money  required,  and  in  return  were  allowed  the  use  of  the  lower 
story  for  Sabbath  worship.  It,  fronted  College  street,  with  its  end  on  Professor  street.  It  was  built  of 
wood  and  was  eighty  feet  long  and  three  stories  high.  The  upper  stories  furnished  dormitories  for 
forty-four  students.  It  contained  the  College  Chapel  and  continued  in  use  until  1S55,  when  it  was 
cut  in  two  and  removed,  to  be  used  for  dwellings. 


..^ 


THE  HISTORICAL  ELM. 


THE  BIG  TENT. 

President  Finney  brought  the  "Big  Tent"  from  New  York  in  1835.  It  was  us»d  for  Commence- 
ment gatherings  and  other  large  meetings,  ur  til  the  First  Church  was  built.  It  was  one  hundred  feet 
in  diame*er  and  enclosed  three  thousand  people.  During  1842  and  1843  it  was  spread  by  the  students 
each  Sabbath  for  services.  It  was  purchased  by  an  anti-slavery  society  and  was  carried  through  the 
country  for  holdiDg  mass  meetings.  * 


THE  FIRST  CHURCH. 

The  First  Church  was  finished  in  1843,  cost,  some  $12,000  and  seats  comfortably  about  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  people.  For  many  years  it  was  the  finest  building  of  the  kind  in  the  State.  Its 
chief  quality  is  the  arrangement  of  seats,  by  which  the  speaker  has  the  entire  audience  close  about 
him.    It  is  still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 


THE  CLEVELAND  JAIL. 
The  above  cut  is  a  rather  dim  representation  of  the  old  Cuyahoga  County  jail/located  on  the 
Public  Square  in  Cleveland,  where  the  famous  "37  "  of  Oberlin  were  imprisoned.  t 


THE  PRESENT  COLLEGE  CHAPEL. 

«"    The  Chapel  was  built  in  1854-55,  costing  $10,500.    It  is  to  be  enlarged  soon,  so  as"  to  admit  the 
splendid  new  pipe  organ  which  has  been  purchased. 


Pres't  Charles  G.  Finney. 


Pres't  James  H.  Fairchild. 


INTERIOR  OF  DINING  ROOM  IN  PRESENT^LADIES'  HALL 


side  of 
fied.    The 


■p,J^L,  !i lde?cf  of  President  Finney  and  Professor  Morgan  were  built  in  1835-6,  on  the  west 
fnrSr  i    n  ^     'h  d  MgT  °PP0Slt«  Paf  J2l)    They  are  still  standing,  somewhat  modifier 
Inv  fnr  wleP   ib,I  ^V^"?*'    Th*  la.tter,  used  by  the  Conservatory  of  Music,  will  soon  make 
cmL'ns  a^xSf^ex^agVn"6  °f  "^  ereCU°n  theSe  bUildi"gS  Were  COnsidered  *  maDy  ^ 

«r  J!i?iI)S}o^a™or- "  Sla-b  "  Hra11'  a£ut  of  which  aPPears  on  our  rear  cover,  was  constructed  in  1835,  to 
ff  tK  flP^r"8  from  Lane  Seminary.  It  was  a  one-story  building  144  feet  long  and  24  feet 
mYnuteK  HpirtVS  Land  ceVe1D^Twere  of  unseasoned,  rough  boards,  battened  with  slabs  It  is  more 
£,d  w«iy,ft!™nbId  Jage  18^  Xt  S^rved  lts  PurPOse  until  the  completion  of  Tappan  Hall  in  1836, 
and  was  afterwards  used  as  a  shop.    One  part  of  it  still  exists  as  a  stable  at  15  S.  Professor  street. 

was^Ml'8  tV1,™  n°la  %Utr  °{  0b,er!in  Hal1-  the  first  of  the  college  buildings.  Oberlin  Hall 
carrlpH  nid'^18^-  Awas  abr°??  *?&*  feet  square,  with  two  full  stories  and  the  middle  portion 
outnZ  n.e  rlirdrEi?ry-  Thl8  third  story  was  called  the  attic,  and  furnished  rooms  for  twenty 
S"'e,i  Oberlin  Hall  also  embraced  a  boarding  hall,  chapel,  meeting  house,  school  rooms,  college 
fS  rotwp  «  n!^S  nri?.qua,M  •"'  ?£r  a  year  and.  a  half  this  buildinS  Provided  for  all  the  operations  of 
RtrPPt  ,£e  a*d  a11  the  public  gatherings  of  the  colony.  It  is  still  in  existence,  standing  on  College 
shaje  2  much  modifiS8  **  g  occupied  by  a  jewelry  store.    Of  course  its  general 

vr^iJ^^i^^tiffSoSS: the  Historic  Elm  and  the  Dining  Hal1  are  taken  from 

Ko»Jio?HCO™r-iSt0ne  °f  *h!.  new  Ladies'  Society  Hall,  to  be  known  as  Sturges  Hall,  has  already 
broken  in  M^S^f  Kl^  new  °entral  college  building  will  be  begun  soon,  and  ground  will  be 
1 ?■«?£?  la rch,  1884,  for  the  new  Conservatory  building,  Warner  Hall.  The  two  latter  halls  will 
boas?  7  enduring  qualities  any  building  of  which  Oberlin  has  been  able  hitherto  to 


COUNCIL  HALL. 

Council  Hall,  the  most  modern  and  most  expensive  of  the  college  buildings,  was  put  up  in  1872-3, 
at  a  cost  of  nearly  $70,000,   The  rooms  were  furnit  hed  by  different  churches  throughout  Northern  umo. 


PRESENT  LADIES'  HALL. 

The  new  Ladies'  Hall  was  begun  at  the  opening  of  the  war,  being  completed  in  1865.    Its  cost  was 
$40,000.  _, 


OBERLINIANA 


A  Jubilee  Volume  of  Semi-Historical  Anecdotes  connected  with 
the  past  and  present  of 

OBERLIH    COLLEGE. 


1833-1883. 

Rich  fifty  years  !  Their  worth  out-weighs 

The  gold  since  found  on  western  slopes  : 
In  sacrifice  and  works  of  faith 

Must  rest  at  last  a  nation's  hopes. 
"  First  to  the  Lord ;  then  to  the  work  " — 

This  blazoned  on  thy  earliest  page, 
Shall  lead  thee  in  thy  larger  life, 

And  be  thy  proudest  heritage. 


uv 


A.     L.     SHUMWAY,    '82, 

C.     DeW.     B  ROWER,    '8  3 


Printed  by  Home  Publishing  Co.,  Cleveland,  0 


To  the  memory  of  the  saints  who,  relying  upon  God,  with  courage 
and  patience  conceived  and  founded 

OBERLIN  COLLEGE; 

to  the  friends  who  have  given  their  prayers  and  means  to  preserve 
the  noble  inheritance ;  to  the  Professors  and  Teachers  who,  in  self- 
denying  love  and  wisdom,  have  worked  and  taught  to  the  highest 
good,  walking  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Fathers;  to  the  Oberlin  men 
who,  having  shared  in  the  toils  and  pleasures  of  college  life,  in 
every  land  have  borne  and  are  bearing  "  witness  to  the  truth" ;  to  our 

ALMA  MATER, 

dearest  of  college  homes,  we  humbly  but 
lovingly  dedicate  this  volume. 


DR.  JOHN  MORGAN. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I.— PIONEER  REMINISCENCES. 

PAG] 

Planting  of  the  colony — Early  persecution— "  Marriage  Extraordinary" 
— "  Damnable  Theology  "—First  prayer  meeting — The  child  named — 
Olivet  founded— Slavery  discussions— Lane  Seminary  accessions — 
Old  Slab  Hall— Early  diet — Sabbath  worship — Various  stories,       .        9-21 

CHAPTER  I T.—  SLAVERY  ANECDOTES. 

Treatment  of  students  abroad — An  Elyria  chase— Hoaxing  slave-hunters 
—A  load  of  hay — A  painted  Ethiopian— Shields  Green— Rescue  of 
Johnston— Hunting  down  "  Darkies  " — Various  ruses— Only  a  ram,  .  22-35 

[CHAPTER  III.— THE  WELLINGTON  RESCUE. 

The  Felon's  Feast— Anti-slavery  eloquence— The  37  in  jail— Sabbath- 
school  excursion — "Rescuer"  wit — Two  jollifications— "Deacon"  Gray 
converted,  .........    36-43 

CHAPTER  IV.— FAMOUS  COLLEGE  PRANKS. 

"  Sophomore  Sawdust  Seremonies  "—Prof.  Cochran  outwitted — The 
gorilla  persecuted— A  Chapel  bell  scrape — Mending  sidewalks— Our 
cane  rush— The  Oberlin  Squad  frolic,  .  .  .  .  .  41-50 

CHAPTER  V.-OBERLIN  ODDITIES. 

The  Oberlin  laundryman— Red  houses— Oberlin  mud — Various  crazes- 
Vegetable  diet— Ice-water  baths— Religious  characteristics — No  use  for 
tobacco— Second  Adventism — Cultivating  the  Campus,  .  .    50-57 

CHAPTER  VI.— ACHAT  WITH  "GEORGE  HARRIS." 

"  Old  Accommodation"  at  home— Real-life  biographies — Uncle  Tom — 
Little  Eva— Aunt  Chloe— George  Shelby— Things  not  told  in  Uncle 
Tom's  Cabin,  .....'..         57-60 

CHAPTER  VII.— POLITICAL  REMINISCENCES. 

Mock    conventions— Pandemonium  upon  Garfield's  election— Trip  to 
•    Mentor  by  special  train — President  Fairchild's  speech— General  Gar- 
field's response — An  omen — Decoration  Days— Other  incidents,        .      60-66 

CHAPTER  VIIL— PRESIDENT  FINNEY. 

Introductory  sketch — Arrival  in  Oberlin — Interview  with  Tilton— Char- 
acteristic sermons  and  prayers — Dealings  with  skeptics— An  immense 
calf — His  absent-mindedness— Prayers  for  rain— Converting  Abraham 
Lincoln— Double  abstraction — Almost  an  oath— "  Hurrah  for  the 
devil"— Praying  for  Johnston,  .....  .67-81 


CHAPTER  IX.— OBERLIN  ROMANCE. 

An  awful  punster— Early  laundry  facilities— Early  table-ware— A  singu- 
lar courtship— Another  ditto — Mrs. Crosby's  Garden— Unwittingly  sel- 
fish— Kept  his  pledge — One  chair  for  two — A  Professor's  courtship — 
Woman's  rights  triumph — The  "  Oberlin  Step  " — Projected  removal  of 
the  College— Botanizing— Tappan  Hall,  the  Laboratory  and  the  His- 
torical Elm,  82-96 

CHAPTER  X.— SKETCHES  OF  FORMER  STUDENTS. 

Hon.  J.  D.  Cox— Prof.  Fred.  Allen — Levi  Bauder  and  chess— Elisha  Gray 
— U.  S.  Geologist  Hay  den —Prof.  Gunning's  revenge — Rev  Anna  Oliver 
— Lucy  Stone— Antoinette  Brown— Lettice  Smith — Judge  Ingersoll— 
Glee  Club  tour— J.  M.  Langston— Prof.  Barbour — Dr.  Emeline  Horton 
Cleveland — Emily  Huntington  Miller — Company  C. — An  old-time  lark 
—Prof.  Churchill,  .  . 96-110- 

CHAPTER  XI.— OBERLIN  POETRY. 

Oberlin  College  Hymn — Society  songs — First  printed  poem— Historical 
Epic— Ode  to  Prof.  D's  skeleton — Raving  by  Poh  !— Selections  from  writ- 
ings of  Miss  Fanny  Jackson,  C.  S.Wood,  W.  H.  Buss,  B.  A.  Imes.  Emily 
Huntington  Miller,  Eva  L.  Emery  Dye.  S.  Fitch,  L.  J.  Carver,  W.  W. 
Fay,  W.  J.  Vickery,  and  many  others,  .  .  .  .        .    111-147 

CHAPTER  XII.— FLOTSAM  AND  JETSAM. 

"  Preserving  the  Principal  "—A  doughnut  incident— Tutor  Hodge's  puns 
— Miscellaneous  incidents— Organization  of  the  college  societies— Wil- 
lard  Sears— Base  ball— A  gift  to  Garfield— The  Female  Fire  Brigade- 
Statistics— The  "jumps  "—College  journalism,  .  .  .        118-161 

CHAPTER  XIII.— TEMPERANCE  BATTLES. 

A  typical  mass  meeting— Exterminating  saloons — Lynching  Garnett — 
The  Red  Pepper  Campaign— The  tobacco  rule — Razing  a  saloon  and 
floating  it  down  Black  River — A  warm  reception  to  Gilmore's  band — 
The  New  Oberlin  escapade,  .  .  ...  .  .        161-169 

CHAPTER  XIV.— THE  OBERLIN  OF  TO-DAY. 

A  Jubilee  peep  into  the  various  college  departments— Joseph  Cook's 
eulogy — Tribute  from  the  Advance— Other  good  words,  .  .    169.175 

L'ENVOI. 


SALUTAMUS I 

The  luckless  mortal  whose  unhappy  lot  it  may  be  to  turn  the  pages  of  this 
book  will  delve  in  vain  therein  for  statistics  and  ordinary  chronological  tables. 
He  will  find  very  little  theology,  speculation  or  moralizing  here. 

The  more  serious  aspects  of  Oberlin  history  have  been  portrayed  in  literature 
more  than  once,  and  there  is  no  disposition  to  undervalue  the  work  thus  done 
by  wiser  heads  and  more  experienced  writers.  The  publication  of  this  little 
volume  is  no  invasion  of  the  sphere  of  any  of  these  more  pretentious  works. 
On  the  contrary,  if  there  is  any  relation  sustained  by  this  book  toward  others 
already  published,  or  to  be  published,  that  relation  is  a  purely  supplemental 
one.  This  volume  is  the  after-course  of  filberts  and  almonds  and  oranges  and 
bananas,  which  should  properly  follow  the  more  substantial  elements  in  the 
Jubilee  repast.  In  other  words,  it  is  the  anecdotal,  and  hitherto  unwritten  his- 
tory of  Oberlin  College  which  is  contained  within  these  covers. 

Doubtless  there  is  no  other  town  in  Northern  Ohio  which  has  had  so  remark- 
able a  history  as  Oberlin,  a  history  into  which  the  element  of  romance  has  enter- 
ed so  largely.  This  history  has  been  so  strange,  often  so  thrilling,  thatit  cannot 
fail  to  interest  the  general  public.  Certainly  more  than  local  interest  must 
attach  to  the  history  of  a  town  which  has  been  called  the  nursery  of  anti-slavery 
feeling  in  the  West;  which  has  proved  the  practicability  of  "  co-education  of  the 
sexes;"  which  has  been  the  home  and  final  resting-place  of  Charles  v>.  Finney  : 
which  claims  Mrs.  Stowe's  hero,  "George  Harris;"  which  has  been  one  of  the 
principal  stations  on  the  under-ground  railway;  and  the  name  of  which  has 
been  for  a  by-word  and  a  hissing  in  the  country.  It  follows  that  the  romantic 
stories  interwoven  with  this  history  ought  to  be  preserved. 

The  stories  within  have  been  compiled  with  no  little  outlay  of  strength,  time, 
and  personal  inconvenience.  If  this  work  is  not  rewarded  in  any  material  way, 
it  will  still  be  a  substantial  satisfaction  to  the  publishers  to  know  that  they  have 
rendered  some  service  to  the  cause  of  Oberlin,  by  preserving  these  reminiscences 
of  the  early  times.  In  a  few  years  there  will  be  no  one  left  from  whom  an 
authentic  recital  of  these  stories  could  be  had.  It  is  eminently  fitting  that  the 
present  and  all  future  generations  of  students  should  know  at  what  a  cost  have 
been  purchased  the  educational  privileges  which  they  enjoy  here;  that  they 
fully  appreciate  the  heritage  which  has  been  left  them  by  the  early  Oberlin 
fathers.  Ideas  as  to  the  way  in  which  this  work  should  be  done  may  legitimately 
differ.  We  have  endeavored  to  handle  the  history  of  the  school  reverently,  and 
yet  have  not  gone  to  the  other  extreme  of  prudery,  which  is  quite  as  offensive. 
No  one  person's  ideas  as  to  what  the  book  should  be  will  be  fully  realized,  of 
course;  but  we  trust  that  all  may  find  something  of  value  contained  in  it. 


In  keeping  with  the  character  of  the  occasion  upon  which  the  book  is  intro- 
duced, it  has  been  the  effort  to  paint  the  brighter  side  of  Oberlin  life.  A  very 
brief  outline  of  the  early  career  of  both  town  and  college  is  given  in  the  first 
chapter,  to  serve  as  a  faint  background  to  the  picture — in  order  that  it  may  not 
seem  to  be  entirely  devoid  of  historical  setting.  Only  warm,  bright  colors  have 
been  used.  Occasionally  pathos,  sentiment  and  fancy  may  have  been  employed 
to  fill  in  with,  but  the  presiding  genius  of  the  whole  is  comedy.  The  surprising 
and  amusing  sides  of  Oberlin  life  have  been  portrayed,  with  due  effort  to  avoid 
the  dangerous  extreme  of  coarseness  and  buffoonry  so  common  in  college  pub- 
lications. 

It  may  be  well  to  state  in  this  introduction  that,  ( unless  otherwise  specified ), 
the  incidents  as  given  are  without  exception  vouched  for  as  strictly  true  by  those 
Personally  acquainted  with  the  facts.  Perhaps  the  gathering  up  of  these  tradi- 
tions could  have  been  done  more  effectively  by  some  of  those  still  living  who 
have  watched  the  growth  of  Oberlin  from  the  early  times ;  but  as  these  persons 
have  either  not  been  able  or  not  inspired  to  take  the  matter  in  hand,  it  has  been 
reserved  for  the  students  of  modern  times  to  do  it  as  best  they  could.  The 
result  is,  we' hope,  tolerably  complete,  considering  the  fact  that  nearly  all  the 
ncidents  related  had  to  be  gathered  by  the  interviewing  process. 

And  now  it  only  remains,  in  sending  forth  this  modest  candidate  for  local 
favor,  to  add  that,  while  we  regret  that  the  haste  with  which  it  was  necessary 
to  get  out  Oberliniana  has  not  been  compatible  with  a  more  exhaustive  treat- 
ment of  the  subject  and  a  more  perfect  typographical  make-up,  we  nevertheless 
count  none  of  the  time  and  labor  which  the  book  represents  lost,  whatever  may 
be  its  reception  at  the  hands  of  the  public. 

THE  AUTHORS. 


OBERLINIANA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PIONEER    REMINISCENCES. 

^ : — •»- 

p^TN  1832,  Rev.  John  L.  Shipherd,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 

s&l  1.  Charch   at  Elyria,   and   Mr.  P.P.  Stewart,  an  ex-missionary, 

c)1 Jp!  conceived  the  plan  of  organizing  a  community  in  the  wilds  of 

jjT    Lorain  county,  which  should  become  the  secluded  home  of  a 

4*    collegiate  school.     During  that  year  they  prayed  and  talked 

over  the  plan  writh   their  wives,  and  in  the  next  year  came  to  this 

place. 

The  purpose  of  the  colony  wras  set  forth  in  the  "  Oberlin  Covenant " 
as  that  of  "glorifying  God  in  doing  good  to  men  to  the  extent  of  our 
ability."  This  was  the  animus  of  the  community.  To  be  sure,  there 
were  found  also  in  this  "Covenant"  the  inculcation  of  self-denial, 
economy  and  industry,  together  with  the  germ  of  the  present  anti- 
tobacco  sentiment;  yet  love  to  man  wras  the  vital  principle  in  the 
new  coloii}r. 

*  * 

How  far  the  reputation  of  Oberlin  has  been  warped  from  this 
standard !  The  self-denial,  the  intensity  of  belief,  and  the  earnest- 
ness of  life  characteristic  of  the  early  residents  wrere  made  the 
subject  of  unsparing  ridicule.  The  word  Oberlin  became  synony- 
mous with  bigotry  and  asceticism;  yet  the  faith  of  the  early  settlers 
was  not  one  of  austerity  and  gloom.  The  most  trifling  circumstances 
were  outrageously  distorted  and  heralded  abroad  over  the  land  by 
the  press.  More  often  stories  were  fabricated  out  of  wdiole  cloth 
and  circulated  in  the  newspapers. 

The  New  York  Observer  used  the  expression,  "  The  latest  Ober- 
linism,"  in  reference  to  any  instance  of  bigotry  and  intolerance. 
In  short,  the  idea  prevailed  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  land,  that  extreme  fanaticism  characterized  the  place. 

Later  in  the  history  of  the  place  this  calumny  asserted  itself  in 
open  forms.     A  guide-board  five  miles  north  of  town  represented  a 


10  OBERLINIANA. 

negro  running  at  fall  speed  toward  the  settlement.  Another  at  the 
Half- Way  House  between  here  and  Elyria  showed  a  fugitive  slave 
pursued  by  a  grinning  tiger.  Papers  publicly  discussed  the  right 
of  Oberlin  to  be.  Non-intercourse  acts  were  passed  by  the  Pres- 
byteries, and  Oberlin  theology  branded  as  heresy.  Candidates  for 
the  ministry  were  met  with  the  question,  "  Do  you  believe  in  the 
Oberlin  ways  of  doing  things?"  A  monstrous  pamphlet  was  pub- 
lished, entitled  "  Oberlin  Unmasked." 

Students  seeking  schools  to  teach  did  not  dare  to  say  they  hailed 
from  Oberlin,  in  such  false  odium  was  the  place  held.  They  could 
only  reply  to  the  question,  "From  Northern  Ohio;"  otherwise  their 
application  was  hopeless.  A  large  volume  might  be  filled  with 
instances  of  the  slanders  against  the  town. 


Once  a  white  student,  at  Mr.  Shipherd's  request,  drove  a  feeble 
colored  servant  girl  a  few  miles  for  her  health,  the  ride  being  pre- 
scribed b}T  a  physician;  immediately  the  county  paper  issued  an 
extra,  denouncing  the  "  amalgamation!"  The  next  Cleveland  paper 
announced  in  heavy  head  lines,  "Marriage  Extraordinary,''1  and  gave 
the  hideous  details  in  full.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  account 
was  copied  by  at  least  forty  papers  throughout  the  United  States. 

The  vilest  and  most  scurrilous  accounts  of  imaginary  events  were 
published.  Eveiy  mistake  appeared  as  a  monstrous  crime.  At  a 
great  conference  of  Western  churches  held  in  Cleveland,  Oberlin 
was  bitterly  denounced.  It  would  be  too  much  to  say  that  Ober- 
lin was  free  from  extremists,  and  doubtless  mistakes  were  made 
by  some;  but  kindness, charity,  cheerfulness  and  purity  were  the 
chief  characteristics  of  the  early  Oberlin  fathers,  and  not  noisy 
demonstrative  piety. 

Mr.  J.  A.  Van  Wagner  of  '45  says  in  reference  to  this  opposition : 
"  We  were  shut  out  of  the  world,  and  had  no  sympathy  from  any- 
one. When  I  went  away  at  any  distance  to  lecture  or  preach,  I 
didn't  dare  to  tell  them  that  I  came  from  Oberlin.  They  would 
sooner  give  a  night's  lodging  to  a  bear  than  to  a  man  from  Oberlin. 
Once,  when  I  was  out  lecturing,  I  stopped  at  a  good  house  with  a 
very  pleasant  family.  The  lady  of  the  house  was  bent  on  finding- 
out  where  I  got  my  education,  and  asked  me  several  times.  I 
dodged  the  question  as  long  as  I  could,  but  at  last  she  cornered  me, 
and  I  had  to  tell  her,  'Oberlin.'  'Oberlin!'  she  exclaimed,  with  an 
expression  of  horror  anc>  contempt  that  I  shall  never  forget.  That 
was  the  spirit  which  we  encountered  everywhere.     I  had  a  discus- 


PIONEER  REMINISCENCES.  11 

sion  with  a  man  at  one  time,  and  when  he  could  not  beat  me  in  any 
other  way,  he  told  the  crowd  I  was  an  '  Oberlin  student !'  I  had  the 
privilege  of  attending  the  State  Congregational  Association  of 
Michigan  one  year,  and  the  President  of  the  University  at  Ann 
Arbor,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Association,  rose  and  spoke  of  the 
'  almost  damnable  theology  of  Oberlin.'  That  is  the  way  they  felt 
toward  us  and  our  theology." 

But  this  digression  has  been  made  in  order  that  the  contumely 
heaped  upon  the  place  might  be  considered  in  connection  with  this 
original  compact  of  "love  to  all  men."  To  return  now  to  the. little 
colony  struggling  against  overwhelming  opposition. 

The  chief  features  of  the  school,  which  were  especially  obnoxious 
to  the  public,  were  the  manual  labor  system  and  the  system  of 
co-education  of  the  sexes.  Both  of  these  have  now  vindicated 
themselves,  but  they  were  then  looked  upon  as  highly  heretical. 
Reform  was  the  essence  of  Oberlin  doctrine,  and  for  many  of  these 
reforms  the  world  was  not  ready.  The  school  was  many  years  in 
advance  of  its  age. 

Often  worth},  well-meaning  men  sought  to  crush  the  young  enter- 
prise, and  they  were  conscientious  in  this.  Newspapers  all  over  the 
country,  particularly  the  Cleveland  Plain  Dealer,  were  illustrated 
with  cartoons  burlesquing  and  misrepresenting  the  school.  Was  it 
just  to  criticise  thus  without  having  investigated  the  facts V  Cer- 
tainly no  town  ever  became  more  universally  unpopular,  and 
certainly  none  was  ever  less  understood.  But  the  enterprise  grew 
and  prospered  notwithstanding  all  this. 

The  first  year  there  were  100  students  present.  In  1834  the  emi- 
nent Dr.  Dascomb  came,  and  all  rejoiced  in  his  versatile  learning. 
The  attendance  of  ladies  was  about  40  per  cent,  of  the  whole  attend- 
ance, and  has  since  preserved  about  the  same  proportion.  These 
ladies  came  from  New  England  and  various  parts  of  the  country. 
From  Elyria  to  Oberlin,  a  distance  of  nine  miles,  they  were  often 
obliged  to  walk,  sometimes  when  the  mud  was  ankle  deep. 

The  manual  labor  system  involved  at  first,  four  hours'  work  a 
day  from  all  alike.  An  institution  farm  of  800  acres,  a  steam 
engine,  mills,  machinery,  and  a  workshop  were  established;  the 
prices  paid  for  labor  varied  from  3  to  7  cents  per  hour. 


The  following  incident  was  related  by  a  relative  of  Mr.  Pease, 
and  is  the  reliable  account  of  the  events  about  which  so  much  of 
interest  centres : 


12  OBERLINIANA. 

"The  very  first  prayer  meeting  in  Oberlin  was  held  by  Uncle 
Pindar  Pease  and  his  nephew,  P.  B.  Pease.  They  had  traveled  all 
day,  (10  miles),  from  Brownhelm,  driving  through  mud  thick  and 
deep.  Hitching  their  oxen,  they  cut  down  a  tree,  the  first  ever 
felled  in  Oberlin,  and  ate  their  supper  on  the  stump.  Then  both 
kneeled  down  by  its  side  while  Uncle  Pindar  offered  prayer.  After 
building  a  fire  they  curled  up  beside  the  log  and  slept  calmly  all 
night.  Three  years  later,  just  beneath  the  shade  of  the  'big  elm' 
tree,  still  standing,  a  log  house  was  erected,  in  which  lived  Secretary 
Benham  and  his  family.  In  the  sleeping  room,  which  was  entered 
by  a  ladder,  thrust  through  a  hole  in  the  floor,  for  a  long  time  there 
stood  a  box — a  small  box — in  which  a  child,  destined  to  become  one 
of  Oberlin's  best  men,  was  lulled  to  sleep  each  night  by  the  gambols 
of  rats  and  mice." 


Mrs.  Shipherd  has  given  the  following  account  of  the  unifying  of 
the  diverse  views  of  Mr.  Stewart  and  Mr.  Shipherd,  which  resulted 
in  the  founding  of  Oberlin: 

"In  their  deliberations  they  would  exchange  views ;  one  would 
present  one  point  of  interest,  another  a  different  one.  Mr.  Stewart 
proposed  a  college,  of  which  Mr.  Shipherd  could  not  see  the  neces- 
sity, as  Hudson  college  was  in  its  infancy  and  poorly  sustained; 
but  Mr.  Stewart  suggested  the  manual  labor  system,  which  Mr. 
Shipherd  fully  approved.  Thus  they  labored  and  prayed,  and  while 
on  their  knees,  one  day,  asking  guidance,  the  whole  plan  developed 
itself  to  Mr.  Shipherd' s  mind,  and  before  rising  to  his  feet  he  said, 
'Come,  let  us  arise  and  build.'  He  then  told  Mr.  Stewart  what  had 
come  into  his  mind, — to  procure  a  tract  of  land  and  collect  a  colony 
of  Christian  families,  who  should  pledge  themselves  to  sustain  the 
school  and  identify  themselves  with  all  its  interests.  They  came 
down  from  the  study,  and  Mr.  Shipherd,  with  a  glowing  face  said : 
"Well,  my  dear,  the  child  is  born,  and  what  shall  its  name  be?1' 


The  name  selected  for  the  contemplated  colony  and  school  was 
Oberlin,  after  John  Frederick  Oberlin,  well  known  as  pastor  of  a 
parish  in  Eastern  France,  an  interesting  account  of  whose  self- 
denying  and  successful  labors  in  elevating  the  people  under  his 
charge,  they  had  just  been  reading. 


PRIMITIVE     OBERLIN. 


1st  Ch. 

LORAIN  STREET. 


8 

CAMPUS, 

15  acres. 

1 

M 

COLLEGE  STREET. 


2  3  4 

-J    '  InJ     L_ 

9_ 

5 


1 — Original  Log  Cabin. 
2— Colonial  Hall. 
3— Ladies' Hall. 


7— Mr.  Finnev's  House. 
8-Tappan  Hall. 


4— Oberlin  Hall. 
5— Walton  Hall. 
6— Pres't  Mahan's  House. 
9— Cincinnati  Hall,  alias  Slab  Hall,  alias  Rebel  Hall. 
The  above  diagram  represents,  in  a  crude  way.  the  relative  positions  of  the 
early  buildings.     The  street  named  College  Place  had  not  then  been  laid  out. 
Old  Slab  Hall,  a  cut  of  which  appears  on  our  rear  cover,  was  superseded  by  the 
Laboratory. 


For  purposes  of  reference  the  following  table,  prepared  by  Prof.  Frost,  for 
the  Jubilee  Notes,  is  introduced  at  this  point: 

.  OBERLINIENSIUM  EXCERPTA  ANNALIUM. 


PEHNATALIA. 

1800  Beginning  of  revivals  after  forty 
years  of  spiritual  deartb. 

1808  Beginnings  of  missionary  effort 
among  students  of  Williams. 

1820  (circa)  Beginnings  of  Temper- 
ance Reform. 

1821  Conversio  of  F  inney. 

1828  (circa)  A  New  School  Theology 
recognized  in  New  England. 

1831  Garrison's  Liberator  started. 

1832  Nov. —  Shipherd  and   Stewart 

UNDER  THE  HISTORIC  ELM,  CON- 
SECRATE THE  GROUND  FOR  A  CHRIS- 
TIAN Town  and  College. 

NATALIA.,-1833. 

Apr.  l!)th. — Peter  P.  Pease  begins 
the  Clearing. 

June.— First  National  Temperance 
Convention . 

Oct.  2.— Pro-slavery  mob  at  Chatham 
St.  Chapel,  New  York. 

Dec. — American  Anti-Slavery  Society 
formed.  Arthur  Tappan,  Presi- 
dent. School  opened  at  Ober- 
lin  with  41  Students  from  7 
States. 

AD  MAJORA  ENITENS. 

1834  May.  —  Arrival  of  Professors 
Dascomb,  Waldo  and  Branch, 
and  their  wives. 

Oct.— First    Senior    Prep.    Ex. 
Greek  and  Latin  Orations. 
Finney's    Revival    Lectures    pub- 
lished in  New  York  and  abroad. 

1835  Trustees  vote  to  admit  colored 
students. 

Arrival  of  Anti-Slavery   Stu- 
dents from  Lane  and  Hudson. 
Arrival    of    Mahan,     Finney, 
Morgan  and  Cowles. 
Society  of  Ij  quiry  (Y.  M.  C  A.) 
formed. 

1836  Oberlin  Church  with  others 
forms  a  Congregational  Associa- 
tion. 


1836  Jamaica  Mission  founded. 
( More  than  37  missionaries. ) 

1837  Financial  failures  involve  the 
College  in  debt. 

1838  Oberlin  Evangelist  started.  (24 
vols. ) 

1839  (p. KM.  Soc'yform'd.  Later, 0.  J. 
1841    The  Degree  of  A.  B.  for  the 

first  time  conferred  on  Women. 
Amsted  Captives  returned.  Men- 
di  Mission  founded.  (15  mis- 
sionaries. ) 

1843  Indian  Missions  founded.  (More 
than  30  missionaries. ) 

1844  Olivet  founded,  the  first  of 
some  25  Colleges  which  are  the 
Offspring  of  Oderlin. 

1846  Finney's    Theology.     Repub- 
lished in  England  in  1851. 
American    Missionary  Associa- 
tion formed. 

L.  L.  S.  Society  formed. 

1847  Oberlin  students  rejected  as 
missionaries  by  American  Board. 

1851    Sale  of  Schol  a  rships  increases 

THE  NUMBER  OF  StU  DENTS  FROM 

571  to  1020. 
1854    Chapel  erected.. 
1856    ^Elioian  Society  formed. 
1858    Kidnapped  boy  rescued  atWel- 

lington.    Professors  and  others 

imprisoned    under   Fugitive 

Slave  Law. 

1860  Second  Church  formed. 

1861  April  20.— Enlistment  of  Co.  C. 

1865  Ladies'  Hall  completed. 

1866  First  volume  of  Cowles'  Com- 
mentaries. 

1867  Churches  take  action  agrinst 
Secret  Societies. 

1869  Fairchild's  Moral  Philosophy. 

A.  Z.  Society  formed. 
1871    III  National  Council  lays  the 

corner  stone  of  Council  Hall. 
1874    Union  Library  Assoc'n  formed. 

April  lst.--First  No.  Oberlin  Re  view 

1881  China  Band  formed.  10  mis- 
sionaries start  for  Africa. 

1882  Three  months'  Liquor  War.— 
Special  law  secured  for  college 
towns. 


PIONEER  REMINISCENCES.  15 

Kev.  Wolcott  B.  Williams,  of  the  Theological  Class  of  '53,  said 
at  the  dedication  of  Council  Hall : 

"I  suppose  inquiry  will  be  made  as  to  what  became  of  Mr.  Ship- 
herd.  I  will  tell  yon.  One  day  while  he  was  here,  he  came  home 
and  said  to  his  wife,  'What  if  we  go  to  Michigan  and  found  another 
college?'  After  consultation,  she  agreed  to  do  it,  and  they  went  to 
Michigan,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  Olivet  college.  I  think  Ober- 
lin  did  not,  at  that  time,  look  very  favorably  upon  other  enterprises 
of  that  sort.  I  remember  hearing  from  Oberlin  people,  expressions 
of  wonder  and  sympathy  for  Mr.  Shipherd,  after  he  went  away  ;  and 
some  time  later,  at  a  Thanksgiving  meeting  held  here,  Bro.  Pease 
thanked  God  that  he  'had  gone  to  Michigan,  had  the  ague,  and  got 
back  alive.' 

"Meanwhile,  Bro.  Shipherd  had  found  the  site  of  Olivet,  by  losing 
his  way.  When  he  got  there  with  his  colony,  he  found  a  house 
built,  but  it  was  not  large  enough  to  accommodate  them;  so  they 
got  some  hay  and  made  a  bed  out  of  doors.  Mrs.  Shipherd  said  to 
him,  after  looking  over  the  ground,  'Your  college  looks  a  great  deal 
better  on  paper  than  it  does  out  here  in  the  woods.1 

"They  stayed  there  till  the  next  Spring,  when  he  died.  I  have 
seen  his  grave,  and  on  the  head-stone  is  his  age,  'forty-four  years.' 
We  were  in  the  habit  of  calling  him  'Father  Shipherd,'  and  yet  he 
was  only  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  was  hardly  more  than  a  young 
man  in  years,  yet  he  had  founded  two  colleges.  He  had  done  a 
great  work." 


Mr.  Shipherd's  one  fault  was  an  excessive  virtue.  He  would 
never  accept  a  larger  salary  than  $400  a  year,  and  on  this  meagre 
basis  he  had  to  take  care  of  six  bouncing  boys.  When  he  died  Mrs. 
S.  came  back  to  Oberlin  and  battled  for  herself  and  family  in  a  way 
which  amazes  us  of  to-day.  She  kept  twelve  boarders  at  one  time, 
outside  of  her  own  family,  and  did  all  the  work  herself!  The  sons 
are  all  living  to-day,  three  of  them  being  successful  business  men 
in  Cleveland. 


Mr.  P.  P.  Stewart  was  a  man  of  great  largeness  of  heart — always 
doing  for  the  poor.  At  one  time,  while  he  was  in  charge  of  the 
boarding  hall,  he  rose  after  prayers  one  morning,  when  the  students 
had  finished  their  customary  repast  of  graham  bread,  thin  gravy 
and  salt,  and  made  a  speech  something  like  the  following: 

"  Brethren,  I  have  been  thinking  of  a  way  in  which  we  can  bless 
others  by  the  exercise  of  a  very  small  sacrifice  on  our  parts.     I  have 


1G  OBERLINIANA. 

concluded  to  let  you.  all  know  the  result  of  my  meditation,  and  it  is 
this:  Can  we  not  substitute  parched  corn  for  our  graham  diet,  and 
thus  save  something  with  which  to  feed  God's  lambs?" 

The  proposition  did  not  meet  with  favor,  however, — the  students 
believing  it  necessary  to  draw  the  line  right  between  graham  and 
parched  corn. 

*  * 

The  following  incident  further  illustrates  the  privations  incident 
to  the  early  life : 

One  of  the  Theological  Professors  went  to  a  brother  out  of 
town,  who  had  a  team,  and  told  him  he  wanted  some  wood  drawn, 
but  that  he.  had  no  money,  and  asked  him  how  he  should  pay  him. 
The  good  brother  replied  that  he  would  draw  wood  for  him  for  one 
day  for  nothing,  and  then  pointing  to  his  bare  feet  said : 

"But  you  see  I  need  pay  for  ni3r  work."  The  Professor  imme- 
diately jumped  from  his  horse  and  pulled  off  his  shoes  and  throwing 
them  to  him  said: 

"Here,  take  these:  I  have  another  pair  and  can  ride  barefoot," 


The  following  will  illustrate  the  spirit  which  actuated  the  earlv 
students.  It  was  related  by  Rev.  E.  B.  Fairfield,  D.  D.,  of  '45,  at 
the  dedication  of  Council  Hall: 

"  I  can  but  very  imperfectly  express  what  I  felt  on  the  occasion  of 
my  coming  to  Oberlin.  Cincinnati  Hall  was  just  passing  away.  I 
came  here  a  young  man,  poor,  and  with  nobody  to  help  me,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  home.  After  I  had  been  here  three 
months,  I  started  to  g'o  back  home,  with  two  dollars  in  my  pocket. 
It  was  a  small  sum  to  go  so  far  with,  but  I  went,  making  the  dis- 
tance on  foot.  After  I  reached  home  I  said  to  my  father,  'I  want 
to  go  back  to  Oberlin,  and  I  want  you  all  to  go.'  So  I  came  back: 
and  not  long  after  the  family  all  came.,, 

*  * 

One  of  the  first  colonists  coming  from  Massachusetts,  in  1834, 
built  a  log  cabin  that  year,  near  Oberlin,  13x16  feet  within  its  walls, 
with  single  roof.  In  the  summer  he  built  a  frame  barn  30x10  and 
coul'd  not  obtain  sufficient  help  to  raise  it  without  calling  on  the 
students.  A  pig-pen  that  he  afterwards  built  between  his  house 
and  the  street,  and  larger  than  his  house,  was  often  mistaken  for 
his  house,  and  people  coming  to  see  him  generally  knocked  first  on 
the  door  of  the  pig-pen.  His  only  vehicle  for  a  number  of  years, 
for  use  on  his  farm,  or  for  riding  for  business  or  pleasure,  was  a  two- 
wheeled  cart,  drawn  bv  oxen. 


TIONEER  REMINISCENCES.  17 

It  is  often  thought  that  Oberlin  was  from  the  start  an  anti-slavery 

institution.  This  is  erroneous.  The  settlement  of  that  question 
was  effected  as  follows: 

The  students  of  Lane  Seminary,  near  Cincinnati,  began  the  dis- 
cussion of  slavery.  For  eighteen  successive  evenings  the  discussion 
was  continued  most  hotly.  One  young  man,  Theodore  Weld,  was 
conspicuous  for  his  burning  eloquence.  Superbly  logical,  and  with 
an  irresistible  charm  of  person,  he  succeeded  in  fastening  over- 
whelming conviction  of  the  evil  of  slavery  upon  the  rest.  The 
Seminary  trustees  met  and  prohibited  this  discussion.  Four-fifths 
of  the  students  left  at  once,  and  hiring  a  large  building  in  the 
vicinity,  proceeded  to  teach  each  other.  It  is  interesting  to  note 
now,  in  connection  with  this  action,  the  fact  that  a  colored  student 
carried  off  the  honors  at  the  last  commencement  at  Lane  Seminary, 
(1883).     What  a  revolution  in  principles  is  this! 

Arthur  Tappan  offered  $5,000  and  a  professorship  to  the  anti- 
slaverv  institution  which  would  receive  them,  but  there  was  no 
response. 

In  the  meantime,  good  Father  Shipherd,  after  prayerful  consider- 
ation of  this  great  question,  felt  it  a  duty  to  petition  the  trustees  of 
Oberlin  to  open  the  new  school  to  students  irrespective  of  color,  and 
so  did.  The  trustees  met  in  the  morning,  and  a  long  and  most 
earnest  discussion  followed.     All  day  the  discussion  continued. 

But  women's  hearts  are  often  truest  on  such  questions;  and 
Mother  Shipherd,  while  discharging  her  household  duties,  frequently 
passed  the  open  door.  At  length  in  her  anxiety  she  stood  before  it. 
Father  Keep  stepped  out  and  informed  her  that  the  result  was  very 
doubtful.  Immediately  she  dropped  everything  and  gathered 
together  the  women  of  the  place  to  pray  for  the  result,  All  day 
the  discussion  continued,  and  all  day  those  holy  women  prayed  that 
the  right  might  triumph.     At  length  the  vote  was  taken. 

It  was  a  tie! 

Father  Keep  cast  the  deciding  vote,  and  made  Oberlin  forever  an 
anti-slaverv  school. 


In  the  Spring  the  thirty  protesting  students  from  Lane  arrived, 
traveling  by  way  of  the  Ohio  Canal.  But  Oberlin  was  full  already. 
However,  they  were  not  discouraged,  but  proceeded  to  erect  what 
was  afterward  known  as  tw  Cincinnati  Hall,"  or  "Rebel  Shanty,"  a 
building  144x24  feet  in  dimensions.  Soon  after  fifteen  students 
left  Western  Reserve  college  on  similar  grounds.  The  unprece- 
dented action  of  the  trustees  drew  hither  all  anti-slavery  young 
men.     The  place  actually  swarmed  with   students.     Soon  colonies 


18  OBERLINIANA. 

bad  to  be  sent  out,  and  the  suburbs  of  Sheffield  and  Abbey ville 
were  founded. 

Under  the  matchless  eloquence  of  Weld  and  President  Mahan 
(  who  came  about  this  time),  the  students  became  most  enthusiastic 
in  their  hatred  of  slavery.  Every  winter  temperance  and  anti- 
slavery  delegations  went  forth  lecturing  throughout  the  country. 
They  were  reviled,  persecuted,  mobbed.  The  school  was  intensely 
unpopular.  The  action  of  the  trustees  furnished  excellent  material 
for  unscrupulous  caricaturists,   and   amalgamation  was  generally 

thought  to  prevail  here ! 

* 

*  * 

A  brief  description  of  Cincinnati  Hall  as  a  representative  college 
building  of  extreme  pioneer  days  may  be  of  interest.  A  former 
student  thus  describes  it: 

"  The  Hall  was  built  of  green  lumber  and  supported  upon  oak 
blocks,  scattered  at  appropriate  intervals,  and  of  course  after  the 
unsettling  of  the  first  frost  the  outline  of  ridge  and  eaves  and  sill 
became  decidedly  wavy.  This,  with  the  outside  battening  of  slabs 
with  the  bark  still  adhering,  gave  the  building  a  picturesque  appear- 
ance and  made  its  architecture  appropriate  to  its  back-woods  sur- 
roundings. 

But  no  more  notable  building  has  ever  been  erected  to  give  shelter 
to  the  throbbing  purposes  of  Oberlin.  It  was  popularly  known  as 
"Rebel  Shanty,"  though  its  occupants  always  disclaimed  the  title. 
It  was  eight  feet  high  under  the  eaves,  one  hundred  and  forty-four 
feet  long,  and  twenty-four  feet  wide,  divided  into  twenty  students' 
rooms,  twelve  feet  square,  the  remaining  space  in  the  south  end 
being  reserved  for  dining-room  and  kitchen.  Each  room  had  an 
outside  entrance  and  one  window.  There  was  no  internal  commu- 
nication between  the  rooms.  It  was  built  in  the  spring  of  1835. 
After  two  or  three  years,  more  substantial  buildings  were  completed, 
and  it  was  used  as  a  carpenter  shop;  in  1839  or  '40  it  was  divided 
up  and  distributed  about  the  place  for  various  purposes.11 

-X- 

*  * 

About  the  time  of  the  Lane  Seminary  accessions  came  Charles  G. 
Finney,  with  his  glorious  eloquence,  and  Dr.  John  Morgan,  who  had 
been  dismissed  from  Lane  because  of  his  humanitarian  views  !  The 
generous  offer  of  Arthur  Tappan  also  secured  the  erection  of  the 
commodious  dormitory  bearing  his  name.  Still  the  accommo- 
dations were  insufficient.  The  rush  to  the  place  by  the  best  of  the 
youth  was  enormous. 

A  big  tent,  capable  of  seating  3,000  people,  was  purchased,  and 
in  this  commencement  festivities  and  Sabbath  services  were  held. 


PIONEER  REMINISCENCES.  19 

In  1842  the  first  church,  still  in  excellent  condition,  was  begun. 
It  was  said,  in  those  early  chronicles,  "to  admit  2,700  people  and 
shade  half  as  many  more.1'  Doubtless  this  was  extravagant,  but 
certainly  it  was  the  largest  building  in  the  State  for  years.  The 
worshipping  body  in  the  church  was  also  the  largest,  with  one 
exception,  in  the  whole  country.  The  resident  membership  rose  to 
1,200,  the  choir  numbered  150  trained  singers,  and  grand  almost  be- 
yond conception  was  the  melody  they  made. 

Incidents  might  be  multiplied  almost  endlessly,  exhibiting  the 
early  spirit  of  the  place.  It  was  an  ideal  community;  a  sort  of 
prophecy  of  half  a  century  later.  Somewhat  like  the  early  disci- 
ples, they  had  all  things  measurably  in  common. 


The  two  following  incidents  illustrate  the  spirit  of  honesty  which 
prevailed  in  the  early  da}^s.  We  believe  that  the  same  spirit  of  in- 
tegrity permeates  the  college  to-day,  and  that  the  same  could  re- 
occur did  the  occasion  arise. 

A  professor  relates  how  the  farmers  about  Oberlin  used  to  bring- 
in  nuts,  apples,  potatoes  and  other  such  produce,  and  tie  them  in 
bags  to  the  fence  in  the  college  yard.  The  price  of  the  articles  was 
marked  on  the  bags,  and  the  owners  would  then  go  off  about  other 
business.  On  their  return  at  night  they  would  find  the  proper 
money  in  the  otherwise  empty  sacks. 

Rev.  Geo.  Thompson  says  that  at  one  time  during  his  student 
days,  he  made  a  long  trip  into  the  country  one  afternoon  and  brought 
back  a  quantity  of  apples.  These  were  placed  in  a  basket  in  one  of 
the  halls  of  Tappan,  with  a  card  marking  the  price.  The  students 
helped  themselves  and  left  the  required  amount  of  money  in  place 

of  the  apples. 

* 

Much  has  been  said  of  the  forms  of  diet  observed.  Tea,  coffee, 
salt,  pepper  and  meat  were  banished,  even  at  the  hotel;  even  warm 
food  was  at  one  time  deprecated.  Afterward  what  was  called  meat 
was  served  at  the  boarding-hall  once  a  week.  President  Finney  and 
other  ministers  preached  openly  against  these  indulgences.  The 
boarding-hall  at  one  time  afforded  two  grades  of  board,  the  fifty  and 
seventy-five  cent  tables.  The  first  was  called  the  "Graham  Table," 
as  providing  that  quality  of  bread  with  cold  water,  for  breakfast 
and  supper,  with  a  half  bowl  of  milk  added  for  dinner.  The  higher 
priced  or  "Vegetable  Table,"  had  a  little  more  variety,  but  furnished 
no  pies  or  cakes. 


20  OBERLINIANA. 

It  thus  appears  that  extreme  views  did  prevail  here  in,  those 
early  times,  but  it  was  always  the  extremeness  of  conviction,  and 
never  that  of  dogmatism.  They  were  feeling  after  the  truth.  This 
may  also  be  shown  by  an  incident  often  quoted  as  one  of  the  most 
extreme.  A  Southern  student  had  written  anonymous  letters  con- 
taining outrageous  propositions  to  a  certain  young  lady.  These 
letters  were  intercepted  by  some  theological  students,  and  a  meeting 
appointed,  under  the  lady's  name,  at  a  certain  time  and  place.  Said 
student  was  considerably  surprised  on  said  occasion  at  being  seized, 
bound,  and  most  severely  flogged.  Before  flogging  him,  however, 
the  theologues  talked  to  him  long  and  earnestly  and  prayed  for  him 
fervently.  Afterwards,  however,  the  leader  in  the  punishment  con- 
fessed, with  tears  in  his  eyes : 

"I  was  all  wrong,  all  wrong;  and  yet,  before  God,  I  thought  I  was 
right.     I  thought  I  was  serving  Him'1 

The  same  man  is  now  president  of  a  prominent  Southern  college. 
We  of  to-day  would  be  willing  to  say  that  the  young  libertine  did 
not  get  half  what  he  deserved;  yet  the  incident  is  quoted  to  show 
the  remarkable  sincerity  among  the  early  colonists  and  students. 
They  acted,  not  under  impulse,  but  from  conviction,  and  w^ere  al- 
ways ready  afterward,  as  in  the  instance  above,  to  acknowledge  their 

mistake  if  they  had  been  in  error. 

* 

-X-  * 

Another  peculiarity  was  the  character  of  the  Sabbath  worship. 
Three  long  services  per  day  were  held.  When  the  people  became 
sleepy  it  was  customary  to  rise  and  remain  standing.  Thus,  often 
several  hundred  would  be  on  their  feet  at  once,  and  no  comment  was 
excited.  President  Finney  was  very  plain-spoken  and  direct  in  his 
sermons.  He  would  pray  for  the  owner  of  a  cow  which  was  in  the 
habit  of  wandering  around  promiscuously,  and  the  act  was  not  con- 
sidered ridiculous.  He  could  do  what  other  men  could  not.  Hel 
might  pray  for  the  organist  with  reference  to  his  proneness  to  vani- 
ity,  or  for  some  professor  who  was  inclined  to  be  lazy,  and  no  one 
could  take  offense.  In  any  other  this  would  have  been  unpardon- 
able. 

Although  the  community  was  so  positive  and  settled  in  its  own 
.views,  yet  the  people  were  never  intolerant.  Representatives  of 
every  creed  and  faith  were  permitted  to  speak  in  public,  but  it  was 
customary  to  provide  for  a  reply  the  same  or  the  following  night. 
The  monopoly  of  intolerance  was  in  the  hands  of  Oberlins  blatant 
enemies. 

The  simplicity  in  dress  and  manners  was  marked,  yet  in  perfect 
keeping  with  the  spirit  of  the  work  to  be  done.     President  Finney 


PIONEER  REMINISCENCES.  21 

was  once  presented  with  a  beautiful  cloak;  he  refused,  however,  to 
wear  it,  preferring  to  part  with  it  that  the  poor  might  not  suffer  for 
clothing. 

-X- 

•X-  * 

A  notice,  which  would  seem  very  strange  should  it  appear  in 
these  days  when  Oberlin  students  are  constantly  sending  boxes  of 
clothing  to  the  needy  of  other  places,  was  printed  in  the  Oberlin 
Evangelist  for  1840. 

"aid  of  indigent  students. 

"The  Oberlin  Board  of  Education  would  respectfully  suggest  to 
their  patrons  that  articles  of  clothing  are  of  great  value  to  the  in- 
digent students  under  their  care.  There  is  constant  demand  for  all 
kinds,  especially  for  socks,  shirts,  bosoms,  and  collars,  fulled  or  broad 
cloth,  and  also  such  articles  as  are  suitable  for  the  warm  season. 
The  two  latter  kinds  ma}T  well  be  sent  before  being  made  up.  Dona- 
tions in  money  are  also  earnestly  solicited.  'The  Lord  loveth  a 
cheerful  giver.'  L.  Burnell,  Acting  Agent." 


To  illustrate  the  privations  endured  in  the  early  days  an  old  set- 
tler tells  us  of  having  paid  out  his  last  dollar  one  winter  for 
"shorts"  flour  and  carrying  it  home  on  his  back  through  snow  knee- 
deep.  Having  helped  his  wife  to  prepare  some  of  it  in  the  shape  of 
griddle  cakes  they  discovered,  at  the  last  moment,  that  there  was 
no  grease.  The  old  saying:  "When  poor,  grease  your  griddle  with 
corn  cobs,"  came  to  their  aid,  and  the  experiment  proved  a  success. 
A  king  never  enjoyed  his  banquet  more  than  these  pioneers  did 
those  cakes. 

In  those  same  days  for  endurance  the  gentlemen's  pants  were 
often  made  out  of  cotton  bed-ticking.  Clearing  up  land  was  the  oc- 
cupation for  the  winter  days.  Economy,  diligence,  sobriety  and 
faithfulness  were  lessons  cheerfully  learned,  and  which  have  never 
been  forgotten. 


CHAPTER  II. 


SLAVERY    ANECDOTES. 


IT  is  the  object  of  this  chapter  to  sketch  in  a  very  hasty  way 
some  of  the  incidents  which  form  a  part  of  the  anti-slavery 
Jt  history  of  Oberlin.  These  incidents  have  been  so  numerous 
jljthat  we  here  are  apt  to  think  of  them  as  commonplace,  yet  to 
"the  general  reading  public  they  must  be  most  interesting. 
At  the  start  we  desire  to  acknowledge  the  courtesy  of  Mr. 
Sabram  Cox,  Rev.  George  Clark,  Deacon  Peck,  Mr.  Munger, 
Mrs.  Horace  Taylor,  President  Fairchild  and  others,  to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  the  material  for  this  chapter.  Mr.  Sabram  Cox,  upon 
whom  a  call  was  made,  is  an  elderly  colored  man  of  rare  intelligence 
and  noble  qualities  of  mind.  He  was  at  work  for  Mr.  Lovejoy,  at 
the  time  of  the  famous  (or  infamous)  assassination  of  the  latter,  in 
Alden,  near  St.  Louis.  He  was  then  only  a  bo}^,  but  was  the  only 
person  who  dared  haul  from  the  river  in  an  express  wagon  the 
sunken  printing  press,  upon  which  Mr.  Lovejoy  had  printed  his  anti- 
slavery  paper.  As  he  drove  through  the  streets  with  a  cof- 
fin in  which  to  place  the  body  of  his  beloved  friend  and  patron,  he 
was  hissed  by  the  mob,  and  only  escaped  death  by  reason  of  his 
tender  years.  In  the  early  history  of  Oberlin  he  played  a  promi- 
nent part,  and  his  name  will  occur  frequently  in  these  sketches. 

No'  man  in  Oberlin  could  be  trusted  on  the  slave  question.  An 
old  Southerner  once  said  that  no  matter  how  pious  or  reliable  Ober- 
linites  might  be  in  other  matters,  they  would  be  "like  horse  thieves 
when  it  came  to  a  nigger."  To  betray  a  negro  would  have  been 
to  lose  the  respect  of  the  community,  and  insure  lasting  disgrace 
and  odium. 


Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  origin  of  the  Oberlin 
anti-slavery  sentiment,  and  the  strange  but  characteristic  way  in 
which  the  hostility  of  the  college  as  an  institution  became  pledged 
to  the  moral  crime  of  trafficking  in  men's  bodies.  In  the  early 
times,  it  will  be  remembered  that  Oberlin  was  the  only  point  in  the 
North   where   anti-slavery   sentiments  prevailed.     It  thus  became 


SLAVERY  ANECDOTES.  23 

from  the  first  a  sort  of  junction  or  focus  for  the  converging  lines  of 
the  "Underground  Railway"  from  the  South.  From  the  town  fugi- 
tives were  transferred  secretly  to  Cleveland,  Black  River,  Vermil- 
lion, Huron,  and  Sandusky,  and  put  aboard  boats  bound  for  Canada. 
The  writer  was  shown  a  large  cave  between  here  and  Black  River, 
where  it  is  said  that  fugitive  slaves  were  concealed,  thus  constituting 
literally  an  underground  depot.  For  the  truth  of  this  assertion  we 
can  not  vouch. 


To  show  the  complete  isolation  of  Oberlin  sentiment,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  say  that  there  was  not  the  least  sympathy  felt  toward 
the  place  by  any  of  the  neighboring  towns.  The  little  colony  was 
quite   alone  in  the    advocacy  of  anti-slavery.     The    towns  in  the 

'  vicinit}^  were  ready  at  any  time  to  assist  the  slave-holders.  Often 
they  held  indignation  meetings,  and  discussed  measures  for  putting 
Oberlin  down.     Anonymous  communications  were  sent  in  threaten- 

i  ing  to  burn  the  town,  and  for  years  an  armed  patrol  had  to  be  kept 
to  guard  it.  Students  were  egged,  stoned,  sometimes  seriously  hurt, 
for  the  sole  crime  of  hailing  from  Oberlin.  One  eminent  evangelist, 
a  man  noted  for  his  Christian  love,  told  the  writer  that  the  legs  of 
his  horse  were  once  cut  in  to  the  bone,  for  the  simple  reason  that  the 
animal  had  the  misfortune  of  belonging  to  an  Oberlinite.  Yet  these 
persecutors  who  were  themselves  so  intolerant  were  punishing  a 
dumb  brute  because  he  chanced  to  belong  to  a  community  which 
they  fancied  to  be  offensive  because  of  intolerance. 

* 

Another  instance  is  related  of  the  way  in  which  the  early  anti- 
slavey  enthusiasts  from  Lane  Seminary  were  treated.  Rev.  Amos 
Dresser,  one  of  the  "rebels,"  now  of  Franklin,  Nebraska,  was  selling 
Bibles  in  the  streets  of  Nashville,  Tennesee,  when  some  one  inquisi- 
tively peeped  into  his  buggy,  and  found  that  the  books  were  wrapped 
up  in  old  copies  of  the  Philanthropist.  He  was  thereupon  arrested, 
tried,  sentenced  in  due  form  of  law,  and  treated  to  twenty  lashes 
upon  his  bare  back  in  the  Public  Square  in  Nashville!  Does  not 
such  an  outrage  make  the  blood  boil  at  the  mere  recital  to-day? 

■A-  * 

The  students  of  to-day  can  scarcely  imagine  what  it  must  have 
been  to  live  in  Oberlin  in  those  days.  What  a  tremendous  sensa- 
tion it  would  take  now-a-days  to  rouse  two  or  three  hundred  stu- 
dent sat  midnight  and  start  them  off  on  foot  in  a  pursuit  of  slave- 
holders for  miles ;  a  pursuit  involving  weariness,  often  danger,  and 
offering  onl}7  the  compensation  afforded  by  the  triumph  of  moral 


24  OBERLINIANA. 

right.  Yet  this  was  a  common  experience  in  those  days,  and  the 
faithfulness  of  the  people  is  attested  by  the  statement  that  of  all 
the  fugitives  fleeing  here,  and  afterward  purloined  by  ^'owners,"  not 

one  was  ever  returned  to  slavery. 

* 

■34-  * 

An  incident  will  first  be  related  which  formed  a  part  of  the  un- 
written history  of  Oberlin  for  the  year  1840. 

A  company  of  eight  fugitives,  having  passed  North,  were  deliv- 
ered over  to  the  keeping  of  Mr.  Brown,  at  Brown's  Landing  on  the 
lake.  One  of  this  company  was  a  shrewd  old  man  of  some  sixty 
years.  As  was  customary  the  party  was  being  kept  until  word 
should  be  received  from  the  anti-slavery  organization  here  that  a 
boat  had  been  engaged  in  which  the  fugitives  might  be  taken  to 
Canada,  Mr.  R,  E.  Gillet  was  at  that  time  leader  of  this  organiza- 
tion. 

Accordingly  word  was  brought  one  day  that  a  boat  was  moored 
near  the  "Landing,"  and  soon  a  messenger  appeared  with  a  note. 
This  note  was  signed  R.  E.  Gillett,  and  stated  that  the  boat  was 
waiting,  and  that  the  party  would  be  rowed  to  it  in  a  skiff  by  the 
bearer. 

The  company  started,  but  had  not  proceeded  far  when  the  saga- 
cious old  man,  who  had  been  walking  along  thoughtfully,  came  to  a 
sudden  halt. 

'"Pears  to  me,"  he  said,  "like  as  though  dis  ain't  all  straight,  chil- 
luns." 

"Why,  what's  the  trouble?"  inquired  Brown. 

"I  dunno,"  replied  the  old  man,  "only  something  tells  me  it  ain't 
right," 

"Oh  yes,  it  must  be,"  said  the  other;  "here  is  Gillet's  own  name, 
and  he  is  never  deceived." 

Still  the  old  man  shook  his  head  solemnly,  and  in  order  to  assure 
him  Brown  willingly  agreed  to  wait,  and  investigate  the  matter. 
Accordingly  the  company  returned  to  a  chamber  in  the  house,  and 
a  young  man  was  sent  to  spy  around  near  the  boat. 

Soon  he  returned  in  the  greatest  haste,  and  told  them  of  a  conver- 
sation he  had  overheard  while  concealed  in  some  bushes,  proving 
the  forgery  of  the  note.  The  colored  party  were  hurried  out  the 
back  way  into  the  woods,  and  started  post  haste  for  Oberlin,  the 
city  of  refuge.  In  a  moment  more  Brown's  house  was  surrounded 
by  the  horde  of  slave-holders  who  had  been  lurking  in  the  vicinity, 
and  had  discovered  the  defeat  of  their  plan. 

The  slaves,  with  the  exception  of  the  old  man,  continued  their 
flight  to  Oberlin,  pursued  by  their  greedy  masters.     Arriving  in  the 


SLAVERY  ANECDOTES.  25 

town  they  were  concealed  in  a  house  just  in  time  to  discover  the 
slaveholders  at  their  heels.  The  house  was  surrounded  by  the 
human  cormorants,  and  it  seemed  as  if  .escape  was  impossible. 
However,  the  citizens  and  students  discovered  the  nature  of  the 
trouble,  and  soon  appeared  upon  the  ground  in  alarming  numbers. 
There  was  no  pre-arranged  plan,  but  every  one  understood  the  case, 
and  all  worked  together  harmoniously.  People  entered  the  house 
promiscuously,  and  certain  articles  of  apparel  were  surreptitiously 
put  into  the  possession  of  the  slaves.  Scarcely  any  one  knew  how, 
but  soon,  in  some  mysterious  manner,  every  one  of  the  fugitives  had 
been  transferred  to  other  quarters.  Bonneted,  hooded,  shawled  and 
variously  disguised,  they  effected  their  escape  under  the  very  eyes 
of  their  pursuers 

It  was  still,  however,  too  dangerous  to  attempt  to  send  the  slaves 
away,  and  they  were  kept  in  another  part  of  the  towm.  Meanwhile 
a  reward  of  $700  had  been  offered  for  the  apprehension  of  the  fugi- 
tives. This  was  too  tempting  an  offer  for  some  of  our  sister  villages 
to  resist,  and  certain  residents  of  Elyria  decided  to  reap  the  emolu- 
ment of  treachery.  A  certain  lawyer  B.  set  about  the  matter,  and 
soon  had  a  new  blacksmith,  in  the  employ  of  Isaac  Fenfield,  in  this 
village.  The  Oberlinites,  however,  were  always  on  the  alert  for 
spies,  and  it  was  not  long  before  this  one  was  ferreted  out. 

But  the  question  was,  what  should  be  done?  A  plan,  suggested 
by  the  wife  of  Mr.  Horace  Taylor,  an  instructor  in  the  college,  was 
finally  adopted.    This  plan  was  carried  out  and  wTorked  to  perfection. 

During  the  day  it  was  whispered  to  this  spy,  that  early  that 
evening  a  covered  wagon  would  leave  town  for  Cleveland,  drawn  by 
four  horses.  At  the  appointed  time  the  wagon  was  made  read}% 
and  there  were  stowed  away  in  it  instead  of  the  seven  real  slaves, 
seven  colored  students  and  citizens,  under  the  leadership  of  Sabram 
Cox.  The  horses  were  driven  by  two  white  persons,  whose  mission 
was  to  testify  in  court  that  the  passengers  were  free  Oberlin  people. 
(It  was  then  in  the  time  of  the  famous  Ohio  Black  Laws.)  The 
colored  boys  were  variously  disguised.  Some  were  dressed  as  wo- 
men and  had  thick  veils  on;  all  were  clad  in  rags. 

The  party  drove  without  molestation  clear  into  Elyria  Center, 
and  began  to  fear  that  they  had  sold  themselves. 

"  Well,"  they  said,  "we'll  go  down  to  M.'s  anyway,  and  have  some 
refreshments. 

As  they  were  passing  the  hotel,  however,  a  voice  was  heard, — 

"  There  they  come!" 

The  driver  cracked  his  whip  and  yelled  at  the  horses. 

"Hey!  stop  there!"  cried  the  crowd,  and  rushed  out  into  the 
street. 


26  0BERL1NIANA. 

tk  See  here!  What  do  you  mean  by  stopping  honest  travelers  in 
this  way?"   demanded  the  driver. 

kw  O,  we'll  let  you  lind  out,  rest  assured,1'  remarked  the  sarcastic 
voice  of  lawyer  B. 

The  driver  again  tried  to  force  his  way  through  the  crowd,  but 
the  lead-horses  were  seized  and  taken  to  the  stable  Lawyer  B. 
mounted  the  stage  triumphantly,  and  began  pulling  at  the  curtains. 

"  O,  boys,"  cried  Cox,  in  a  subdued  voice,  "  we're  in  an  awful 
scrape!11 

tw  I  guess  you  are  for  once,11  chuckled  lawyer  B.,  still  tugging 
spitefully  at  the  curtains. 

"Hold  'em  down,  hold  'em  down!11  came  in  muffled  accents  from 
within. 

After  more  resistance  an  entrance  was  forced,  and  the  slaves 
cowered  trembling  before  their  captors.  But  the  odor  of  the  $700 
reward  was  becoming  delightfully  fragrant  now,  and  made  the  slave- 
takers  exceedingly  good-natured. 

"Help  the  ladies  out  first,"  said  lawyer  B.,  gallantly. 

And  with  the  most  obsequious  politeness  he  proceeded  to  help  out 
the  sniffling  maidens. 

"  See  how  modest  they  are  in  the  presence  of  so  many  men,"  cried 
one  gaily,  as  he  pointed  to  the  thick  veils 

u  Well,  boys,"  said  Cox,  in  a  low  voice,  "we're  in  for  it.  We  have 
got  into  a  bad  muss,  but  keep  up  courage." 

The  gang  took  their  prisoners  up  into  the  bar-room,  and  began 
exultantly  to  congratulate  themselves  on  the  big  haul  they  had 
made.  Their  success  elated  them  so  that  they  were  inclined  to  be 
very  gracious,  even  to  their  prisoners.  Meanwhile  the  feelings  of 
the  supposed  slaves  may  be  imagined.  The  mock  deference  with 
which  the}r  were  treated  by  their  exultant  captors  was  of  course 
irresistibly  comical  to  them;  and  many  were  the  purposety  ambig- 
uous remarks  made  by  one  and  another  of  them  to  the  merriment 
of  the  captors,  and  of  course  themselves  most  of  all. 

Afterwards  it  was  only  necessary  to  say  to  the  lawyer  in  question, 
with  great  gallantry,  "  Let  the  ladies  out  first,  let  the  ladies  out 
first!"  in  order  to  raise  a  laugh  that  would  force  him  to  retire  pre- 
cipitately from  the  room. 

In  jest  and  story  the  hour  was  prolonged  till  late  into  the  night, 
the  prisoners  using  every  device  to  gain  time.  They  were  still  in 
the  bar-room  gathered  about  a  big  fire  in  the  long  fireplace.  Cox 
was  sitting  next  to  the  lire,  well  muffled  with  rags,  so  as  to  conceal- 
his  identity.  At  length,  however,  the  fire  became  so  warm  that  he 
was  forced  to  remove  some  of  the  wraps   about   his  neck.     As   he 


SLAVERY  ANECDOTES.  27 

did  so  he   was   suddenly   recognized   by   a  former  fellow  student  in 
college. 

"By  heavens!"  exclaimed  the  latter,  "if  there  ain't  Cox,  of  Ober 
fin!" 

Amid  general  consternation  the  facts  of  the  deception  became 
known.  And  now  was  the  turn  of  the  prisoners.  Turning  to  the 
constable  present,  wrho  had  performed  the  arrest,  Cox  made  some 
remarks  to  him  which  were  certainly  not  ambiguous  in  their  nature, 
for  they  made  such  an  impression  upon  him  that  the  same,  night  he 
"folded  his  tent  and  silently  stole  away"  from  the  town. 

The  affair  had  gone  so  far,  however,  that  a  hearing  before  the 
Justice  of  the  Peace  was  unavoidable.  Accordingly  the  matter  was 
brought  up  in  legal  form,  and  after  a  ridiculous  trial  the  seven 
negroes  were  acquitted,  being  identified  by  the  white  drivers.  All 
this  took  time,  however,  and  this  time  was  most  diligently  used  by 
the  real  fugitives.  In  the  morning  it  was  learned  that  the  wagon 
of  genuine  slaves  had  passed  through  the  edge  of  Elyria  during  the 
(iamc  night  and  already  reached  Cleveland. 

At  one  time  a  party  of  slaves  arrived  in  town  just  in  advance  of 
the  pursuers.  They  found  warm  friends  here,  and  were  concealed 
■so  as  to  elude  discover}7  on  the  part  of  the  slave-holders,  for  some 
time.  But  the  latter  still  remained  in  the  neighborhood,  and  it  was 
unsafe  to  send  the  slaves  away  and  dangerous  to  keep  them  any 
longer.     In  this  emergency  a  happy  plan  was  hit  upon. 

The  students  wrere  emphatic  in  their  s3Tmpathy  for  the  oppressed 
•slaves,  and  always  ready  to  attempt  any  scheme  for  assisting  them. 
There  was  at  that  time  a  young  man  named  Cooley  in  the  institu- 
tion. Learning  the  facts  in  question  he  gathered  together  some  of 
his  companions  and  made  this  proposition: 

"Let's  disguise  ourselves  to-night  and  leave  town  rather  con- 
spicuously, in  the  role  of  escaped  fugitives.  Fun  for  us,  you  know, 
•and  then  we  will  save  time  for  the  real  fugitives,  so  that  they  may 
•escape  from  town." 

"Good,"  said  another,  named  Whittlesey. 

And  so  it  was  arranged.  About  dusk  that  evening  the  slave- 
holders were  observed  near  the  large  elm  by  the  hay  scales,  opposite 
the  present  Park  House.  A  moment  later  and  a  rather  deep,  mys- 
terious-looking wagon,  with  its  contents  covered,  was  driven  by  in 
the  direction  of  the  lake.      Whittlesey  was  in  front,  driving. 

The  slave-holders  took  in  the  case  at  a  glance,  and  were  imme- 
diately mounted  in  pursuit.  Whittlesey  observed  them  and  began 
driving  very  rapidly. 


28  OBERLINIANA. 

"Hey,  there!"  yelled  the  slave-holders,  "stop  that  wagon  and  let 
us  have  those  slaves !" 

"  Go  it!"  said  Whittlesey,  to  his  horses,  and  hit  them  a  sharp  rap 
with  the  whip.  For  several  miles  he  led  them  an  exciting  race  toward 
the  lake.     At  length  he  permitted  them  to  gain  perceptibly. 

"  See  here,  you  fellow !"  they  yelled  again ;  "  we  know  what  you've 
got  there,  and  it's  no  use.     We  want  them  niggers." 

Whittlesey  lashed  his  horses  desperately.  The  other  boys  had 
disguised  themselves  by  applying  black  silk  to  their  faces,  so  that 
in  the  dusk  the  illusion  was  nearly  perfect.  They  now  dodged  up 
their  heads  cautiously,  and  looked  out  anxiously  at  the  approaching 
enemy. 

"  Oh  hurry,  hurry;"  cried  Cooley,  wringing  his  hands  in  an  agony 
of  fear. 

Whittlesey  still  lashed  the  animals  furiously,  but  it  was  soon 
apparent  that  all  was  in  vain. 

"Boys!"  he  cried,  reining  up  suddenly,  "it's  no  use.  I  can't  take 
you  any  farther.     Get  to  the  woods,  and  run! ' 

Out  the  students  leaped  and  took  to  an  adjacent  cornfield,  groan- 
ing and  crying  as  they  went.  Such  a  chase  as  they  led  the  slave- 
holders through  that  field!  Cooley  was  the  first  to  be  overtaken. 
His  sense  of  the  ridiculous  was  too  much  for  him,  and  throwing 
himself  upon  the  ground  he  rolled  over  and  over  in  irrepressible 
mirth. 

The  pursuers  stopped  in  amazement  and  demanded  what  he  meant. 

"  Oh,  you  poor,  miserable  things !"  he  managed  to  say  between 
his  fits  of  laughing;  "What  sublime  idiots  you  are!" 

And  he  tore  away  the  silk  and  burst  into  uncontrollable  laughte 
again.     The  disappointment  and  chagrin  of  the  slave-catchers  can 
best  be  imagined. 

On  another  occasion  some  slaves  had  been  concealed  about  the  olc 
boarding-hall.  They  were  not  in  a  position  of  safety,  and  the  own 
ers  (?)  were  in  a  fair  way  to  discover  them.  Accordingly  one  after 
noon  a  large  load  of  hay  was  hired,  and  left  standing  near  by.  Dur 
ing  the  night  the  slaves  were  transferred  to  the  load  and  covered  by 
the  hay.  On  the  following  morning  the  hay  was  hauled  to  the  lake 
and  the  human  part  of  the  cargo  embarked  for  Canada. 


At  another  time  a  slave  was  in  the  greatest  danger  of  apprehen 
sion.  At  a  supreme  moment  a  plan  was  conceived,  and  Alonzo  Peas 
sent  for  (since  he  was  quite  essential  for  its  execution).     Mr.  Peas< 


SLAVERY  ANECDOTES.  29 

was  the  Oberlin  artist  whose  death  occurred  two  or  three 
years  ago.  Mr.  Pease  brought  materials,  and  worked  an  hour  upon 
the  slave.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the  latter  was  a  very  respectable 
Caucasian,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  all  the  paints 
could  be  washed  off.  In  this  disguise  he  left  the  house,  entered  a 
carriage,  and  was  driven  right  through  the  crowd  of  slave-hunters 
in  the  most  public  way,  without  recognition. 


Again  in  broad  daylight  a  slave  rode  on  horseback  to  Huron,  dis- 
guised as  the  lady  companion  of  a  student  named  Sheffield,  (now  a 
prominent  man  at  Napoleon,  O.)  His  face  was  chalked  and  veiled. 
At  Brownhelm  the  two  stopped  and  took  dinner  with  our  own  Presi- 
dent Fairchild,  and  arrived  in  safety  later  in  the  day  at  Huron,  hav- 
ing deceived  their  pursuers  openly.  The  darkey  was  so  amused  at 
this  novel  method  of  escape,  that  when  he  found  himself  safe  he 
laughed  until  he  could  have  been  heard  a  mile  away,  saying  over  and 
pver: 

"Fore  God,  massa  neber  know  dis  chile  in  dem  ar  close/'  Look- 
ing in  a  glass  he  exclaimed:  "Go  way,  niggah,  I  neber  seed  you 
afore;  'specs  you'se  a  runaway." 


In  a  lecture  by  Frederick  Douglass,  in  1876,  on  John  Brown,  refer- 
ence was  made  to  Shields  Green,  once  a  student  and  citizen  in 
Oberlin.  In  this  connection  Prof.  Frost  wrrites:  "Near  the  south- 
east corner  of  our  cemetery  stands  an  unpretentious  monument  of 
clouded  marble,  about  eight  feet  in  height,  bearing  the  following  in- 
scriptions: 

S.     GREEN, 

Died  at  Charlestown,  Va.,  Dec.  2,  1859. 
Aged  23  years. 

J.  A.  COPELAND, 

Died  at  Charlestown,  Va.,  Dec.  2,  1859. 
Aged  25  years. 

L.    S.  LEARY, 

Died  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va,,  Oct.  20,  1859. 
Aged  24  years. 

THESE  COLORED  CITIZENS  OF  OBERLIN, 

The  heroic  associates  of  the  immortal 

JOHN   BROWN, 

Gave  Their  Lives  for  the  Slave. 

Et  nunc  servitudo  etiam  mortua  est,  laus  Deo. 


30  OBERLINIANA. 

Shields  Green  was  residing  in  the  family  of  Mr.  Douglass  just 
before  the  raid  on 'Harper's  Ferry,  and  at  the  call  of  Brown  he  re- 
paired with  Mr.  Douglass  to  an  appointed  spot  near  the  borders  of 
Virginia.  Here  Brown  confided  to  them  the  details  of  his  plans,  in- 
cluding the  capture  of  Harper's  Ferry.  Mr.  Douglass  objected  to 
this  as  unwise  and  hazardous,  and  finding  entreaty  unavailing  he 
withdrew  from  the  enterprise.  Mr.  Green,  however,  followed  his 
old  commander.  When  John  Brown  was  finally  surrounded,  Green 
and  one  companion  were  in  the  mountains  on  some  errand,  and  they 
returned  to  find  that  rescue  was  impossible.  His  companion  coun- 
seled flight,  and  did  himself  escape,  but  Shields  Green — the  Ober- 
lin  student — replied  that  he  preferred  to  'go  down  and  die  with  the 
old  man,'  and  he  did.  There  is  scarcely  a  more  touching  incident  in 
our  national  history.11 


In  the  fall  of  1842,  a  fugitive  man  and  his  wife,  of  the  name  of 
Johnston,  reached  Oberlin  and  found  shelter  in  the  house  of  one, 
Page,  living  on  East  Lorain  street  near  where  the  railroad  now 
passes.  The  place  was  about  a  mile  from  the  center  of  the  college 
campus,  and  was  especially  favorable  for  the  capture  of  concealed 
refugees. 

It  was  known  that  the  pursuers  of  Johnston  and  wife  were  lurk- 
ing about  town,  but  no  one  apprehended  the  forcible  abduction 
which  followed. 

About  9  o'clock  one  evening,  when  all  was  quiet  in  the  town,  a  rap 
came  at  the  door  of  this  house  in  which  the  Johnstons  were  con- 
cealed. Immediately  afterward  the  door  opened,  and  in  marched  the 
slave-hunters.  They  approached  the  family  brandishing  weapons, 
and  threatening  to  kill  any  one  who  interfered.  Then  they  sought 
out  Johnston  and  his  wife,  and  put  them  in  irons  and  started  east. 

It  so  happened  that  at  this  time  there  was  a  colored  young  man  in 
the  employ  of  the  family  who  roomed  in  the  rear  of  the  house.  Com- 
prehending the  state  of  affairs  he  accomplished  a  hasty  escape  from 
a  back  window,  and  started  for  town  with  all  speed. 

Reaching  the  old  chapel  he  found  many  students  still  assembled 
at  a  college  society  meeting,  the  discussion  of  the  slavery  question 
having  that  evening  been  up  for  consideration.  The  word  was 
quietly  passed  about,  the  meeting  broke  up,  and  the  boys 
started  in  silence  for  Page's  house.  They  never  considered  it  wise 
to  know  too  much  about  what  was  to  be  done,  yet  there  was  always 
a  tacit  understanding. 


SLAVERY  ANECDOTES,  31 

Other  students,  living  in  the  dormitory,  had  already  gone  to  bed. 
Suddenly  there   sounded  through  the  corridor  that  electrical  cry, 

"Slave-holders  in  town!" 

Nothing  more  needed  to  be  said.  Those  words  brought  the  stu- 
dents to  their  feet,  and  hurriedly  dressing,  they  joined  the  throng- 
that  was  starting  for  the  scene  of  action.  Then  the  chapel  bell 
pealed  out  the  alarm  and  others  helped  to  swell  the  number.  The 
company  was  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  Horace  Taylor,  a  beloved 
teacher  in  the  school,  and  Mr.  Carrier,  the  institution  farmer  at  that 
time.  The  compan}^  was  armed,  it  is  true;  yet  the  instructions 
were  very  explicit  that  all  proceedings  should  be  orderly  and  law- 
ful. 

The  company  pursued  the  kidnappers  nearly  three  miles.  The 
latter,  it  seems,  had  become  over  confident  on  account  of  their  eas}* 
victory,  and  were  occupying  an  abandoned  hotel.  The  ©berlin  bri- 
gade saved  half  the  distance  by  a  short  cut,  and  approached  in 
rather  suggestive  numbers.  Some  were  on  horseback,  but  most  were 
on  foot.     The  number,  as  estimated  by  one  present,  was  about  300. 

As  they  approached  the}^  could  discern  Johnston  and  wife  hand- 
cuffed within,  while  the  captors  themselves  were  seated  in  the  door 
way,  armed  with  revolvers.  The  latter  were  three  in  number,  con- 
sisting of  a  Southerner  and  his  two  sons.  The  overwhelming  num- 
bers of  the  rescuers  discouraged  them  immediately,  and  they  made 
no  resistance. 

"All  we  want,  sirs,"  said  Mr.  Carrier,  "is  fair  pla}r.  We  will  have 
justice." 

It  was  arranged  that  Mr.  Carrier  and  a  few  others  should  remain 
with  the  Southerners  over  night.  The  main  body  of  students  ac- 
cordingly returned  to  town. 

At  sunrise,  however,  a  still  larger  body  of  citizens  and   students 
returned  to  the  spot.     Arrangements  were  made  b}>  the  slave-catch- 
ers for  a  trial  in  an  adjacent  school  house,  and  the  case  was  calle 
up.     The  trial  was,  of  course,   only   a   sham;  and   according  to  the 
predictions  of  the  slave-holders,  proved  their  claim  to  the  slaves. 

"And  now  I  hope  you  are  satisfied,"  said  the  Southerner;  "and  I 
hope  we  may  be  allowed  to  proceed." 

"No,  sir!"  said  Mr.Carrier,  in  tones  that  were  not  at  all  equivocal; 
"no,  sir !  The  least  we  will  agree  to  now  is,  that  you  go  with  us  to 
Elyria.  We  shall  not  abide  by  this  mock  trial,  and  will  employ 
justifiable  force  if  you  resist  us." 

Nothing  else  could  be  done,  and  so  the  party  continued  on  foot  to 
Elyria — no  one  feeling  that  it  was  a  hardship.  Loyalty  to  right 
was  their  sustaining  principle. 


32  OBERLINIANA. 

At  Elyria  the  case  was  brought  up  in  a  proper  legal  form.  In 
case  of  defeat,  however,  the  Oberlin  people  had  provided  for  the 
escape  of  the  slaves.  A  wagon  and  fleet  horses  were  stationed  near 
by;  men  were  distributed  through  the  room  and  on  the  stairs  to 
pass  the  fugitives  along;  and  the  Sheriff  had  been  won  over,  so  that 
at  the  given  signal  from  him  the  rescue  could  be  made. 

But  when  the  case  was  brought  up  the  slave-holders  plead  not 
ready  for  trial.  The  case  was  consequently  postponed,  and  the 
slaves  put  into  jail.  In  the  meantime  papers  had  been  issued  against 
the  Southerners  for  entering  a  house  and  searching  it  without  a 
warrant,  threatening  the  occupants,  and  finally  assault  and  battery. 
They  were  then  put  under  $1,500  bonds  for  their  appearance  in  court. 
Bail  was  furnished,  and  the  next  da}^  they  started  South  to  Ken- 
tucky for  further  evidence. 

That  night  the  Elyria  jail  leaked.  A  report  prevailed  that  an 
entrance  to  the  jail  was  dug  under  the  wall  from  without;  but  the 
more  probable  theory  is  that,  while  not  under  direct  inspection, 
Johnston  cleft  a  heavy  rod  from  the  jail  banisters  with  an  axe,  and 
secreted  it  in  his  cell.  With  this  he  pried  at  the  grating,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  removing  two  bars.  Through  this  opening  all  the  occu- 
pants of  the  jail  escaped  with  the  one  exception  of  an  old  man  who 
was  too  corpulent. 

In  the  following  February  the  three  slave-holders  started  North 
again.  They  were  quite  wroth  at  the  escape  of  their  property,  and 
vowed  vengeance  dire  to  the  Oberlinites.  But  on  the  way  pestilence 
overtook  them.  That  dreadful  scourge,  cholera,  carried  away  one 
and  afflicted  the  rest,  so  that  they  turned  back  in  the  greatest  fear. 
They  never  returned  to  the  North. 

What  became  of  Johnston  and  wife  no  one  could  tell.  We 
recently  had  the  pleasure  of  talking  with  Mr.  Munger,  who  was  the 
only  one  for  years  who  could  answer  that  question.  The  couple 
were  brought  to  his  house  and  remained  there  in  the  greatest  secrecy 
until  the  21st  of  March,  when  H.  C.  Taylor  drove  them  to  Cleve- 
land in  his  cutter.  Not  even  the  most  intimate  friends  of  Mr. 
Munger  knew  of  this  fact  at  the  time. 


It  required  great  shrewdness  in  the  early  days  to  accomplish  the 
rescue  of  the  slaves  and  yet  not  seem  to  transgress  the  law.  Usually 
there  was  no  concerted  plan,  but  all  acted  in  harmony,  as  if  there 
were  a  tacit  understanding.  Advantage  was  taken  of  the  laws  for 
search  warrants.  Only  warrants  to  search  one  house  at  a  time 
could  be  issued,  and  these  must  be  procured  at  Elyria.  The  slaves 
could  thus   be  suddenly  transferred  from  one  part  of  the  town  to 


SLAVERY  ANECDOTES.  33 

another,  and  the  pursuers  flanked.  During  all  the  years  of  Oberlin's 
anti-slavery  history  there  were  fugitives  in  town.  Often  one  house 
would  contain  ten  or  a  dozen,  and  at  the  same  time  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  houses  in  town  hold  refugees.  Thus  very  great  numbers 
were  sheltered  and  protected  by  the  people. 

*  •* 

The  residents  had  to  guard  against  spies  constantly.  An  instance 
is  told  showing  the  way  in  which  the  fidelity  of  men  of  question- 
able principles  was  tested. 

An  earnest  anti-slavery  man,  whom  we  will  call  Mr.  8.,  residing 
southeast  of  town,  had  occasion  to  doubt  the  honest}'  of  a  certain 
neighbor  of  his  by  the  name  of  W.  Accordingly  he  resolved  upon 
the  following  ruse:  One  morning  when  he  had  no  slaves  on  hand, 
he  called  upon  Mr.  W.  After  miscellaneous  conversation  he  at 
length  drew  the  latter  aside  and  remarked  confidentially: 

"  Well,  neighbor  W.,  I  want  your  assistance.  I  had  a  couple  of 
darkies  come  to  my  place  last  night,  and  I  propose  to  protect  them. 
The  slave-holders  will  pass  your  house  on  the  way,  and  I  want  you 
to  turn  them  from  the  track.  At  the  worst,  let  me  know  when 
they  are  approaching,  so  I  can  be  prepared." 

To  this  Mr.  W.  readily  assented,  and  S.  returned  home. 

That  night  the  house  of  Mr.  S.  was  surrounded  by  a  big  gang 
of  slave-hunters  who  were  in  search  of  a  couple  of  escaped  slaves. 
The  marauders  entered  without  ceremony  and  demanded  the  slaves. 

"  Oh,  sir's,"  said  Mr.  S.,  in  mock  fear,  "  I  have  no  slaves  of  yours 
or  anybody  else's.     Indeed  I  haven't." 

"  Come,  now,"  said  the  leader  savagely,  "none  of  this.  We  want 
them  niggers,  and  what's  more  we're  goin'  to  have  them." 

They  searched  the  house  thoroughly,  but  in  vain. 

"Now,  see  here,"  demanded  the  leader  again  angrily,  "you've  got 
them  slaves,  and  do  you  fork  'em  over." 

S.  protested  his  innocence  again. 

"What!"  said  the  leader,  "didn't  you  tell  Mr.  W.  this  morning 
that  you  had  a  couple  of  darkies  come  last  night?  " 

S.  dropped  his  head  and  could  say  nothing. 

"  Well,  now,  where  are  they?  " 

"  In  the  barn,  sir,"  faltered  Mr.  S. 

"  Show  them  to  us  at  once!  " 

The  proceeded  to  the  barn  and  S.  led  them  in  great  agitation  to 
a  stable. 

"  Oh,  please  sirs,  don't  hurt  me,  and  you  may  have  them." 

Then  he  tremblingly  opened  the  stable  and  said : 

"  Those  are  the  darkies,  gentlemen!  " 


34  OBERLINIANA. 

And  he  pointed  to  a  pair  of  black  lambs  which  had  been  born  the 
night  previous. 


The  unselfishness  of  the  pioneers  of  Oberlin  in  this  work  of  help- 
ing slaves  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  they  never  received  any  com- 
pensation for  their  services,  although  often  struggling  against  stern 
poverty  themselves.  Their  disinterested  labors  of  love  were  also 
sometimes  unappreciated  by  those  whom  they  would  help.  Once 
Mr.  Munger  had  kept  in  his  house  a  colored  man  and  wife  for  over 
three  weeks,  boarding  them  and  caring  for  them  meanwhile.  For 
this  assistance  the  latter  had  returned  no  service  to  their  benefact- 
ors. One  Monday  Mrs.  Munger  was  ill,  and  Mr.  M.  ventured 
to  ask  the  fugitive  if  his  wife  would  not  assist  some  in  the  washing. 

"  Well,"  said  the  man,  thoughtfully  stroking  his  beard,  "yes,  I 
think  perhaps  she  might,  if  you  would  pay  her  fifty  cents." 

This  was  an  actual  occurrence.  Usually,  however,  the  gratitude 
of  the  fugitives  toward  their  saviours  knew  no  bounds. 


Various  devices  were  adopted  to  detain  the  slave-hunters  and 
gain  time  for  escaping  negroes.  Once  a  gang  of  slave-hunters  came 
up  South  Main  street,  in  search  of  slaves  who  were  at  that  time  be- 
ing transferred  to  a  place  of  safety.  The  students  heard  of  the  matter, 
and  came  from  their  recitation  rooms  to  the  number  of  about  200, 
books  in  hand,  to  a  place  where  the  slave-hunters  must  pass.  The 
latter  approached  cautiously,  expecting  a  mob.  Imagine  their  sur- 
prise at  being  addressed  by  one  and  another  on  various  topics  of 
interest.  They  were  in  a  hurry,  however,  and  tried  to  press  on, 
but  the  students,  effectually  blocking  the  way,  continued  to  talk 
amiably.  With  various  excuses,  and  conversation  all  the  while 
which  was  aggravatingly  good  natured,  they  managed  to  detain  the 
infuriated  Southerners  for  several  hours. 

# 
*  * 

At  another  time  slave-holders  arrived  in  town  about  dusk.  Ob- 
serving them,  the  students  appointed  a  large  deputation  to  look 
after  their  comfort  while  in  town.  All  that  night  the  slave-holders 
were  followed  about  by  this  body  of  students,  who  kept  up  an  ani- 
mated conversation  all  the  time,  feeling  that  they  were  in  duty 
bound  to  entertain  their  visitors  to  the  best  of  their  ability.  At 
dawn  the  leader  exclaimed  with  an  oath : 

"Don't  these  confounded  Oberlin  people  ever  sleep?  " 

And  (he  company  left  town  in  discouragement,  never  to  return. 


SLAVERY  ANECDOTES.  35- 

Rev.  Uriah  T.  Chamberlain,  of  the  class  of  '38,  who  died  in  1881, 
at  the  age  of  70,  was  once  sued  under  the  fugitive  slave  law  for  as- 
sisting fugitives,  and  fined  to  the  amount  of  $50,000.  On  appeal  to 
a  higher  court  he  was  fined  one  cent,  but  the  costs  were  still  to  be 
paid.  Finally  on  a  third  hearing,  he  was  cleared  by  the  advocacy 
of  Judge  Parish. 

•X- 

tt  * 

A  party  of  students  once  blacked  their  faces  and  led  the  slave- 
holders a  long  chase  toward  Brownhelm.  Overtaken  at  length,  they 
made  for  a  brook,  and  when  their  pursuers  came  up,  astonished  the 
latter  by  bathing  in  the  water;  and,   lo!  the  black  rubbed  off. 

Anti-slavery  lawyers  at  Elyria  would  sometimes  find  technical 
flaws  in  indictments,  and  in  the  short  interim  before  a  new  writ 
could  be  served,  Oberlin  parties  would  be  driving  the  slaves  rapidly 
toward  places  of  refuge.  Every  legitimate  method  of  evading  the 
slave-trappers  was  employed.  In  extremely  rare  cases  the  more 
impulsive  students  would  secure  justice  by  irregular  methods;  but 
such  conduct  was  always  condemned  and  punished. 


Another  incident  selected  at  random  from  much  material  on  hand 
shall  suffice  for  this  chapter.  A  fugitive  had  been  helped  to  escape 
and  while  on  the  route  to  Cleveland,  was  chased  by  the  sheriff  and 
a  lawyer  from  Elyria.  Near  Ridgeville  it  became  necessary  for  the 
slave  to  hide  in  a  place  of  safety  until  the  attention  of  the  officers 
could  be  diverted.  A  ruse  was  employed  for  the  deception  of  the 
pursuers.  There  was  a  smoke-house  near  by  and  it  was  decided  to 
direct  their  attention  to  this.  Accordingly  very  nrvsterious  things 
were  observed  in  connection  with  this  smoke-house.  It  was  visited 
at  night.  Suspicious  movements  in  and  aboirt  it  were  noticed.  It 
was  locked  and  evidently  guarded. 

After  careful  observation  the  lawyer  and  sheriff  became  convinced 
that  this  building  contained  their  victim.  They  accordingly  set 
about  accomplishing  its  capture.  Help  was  sent  for  and  soon  a 
large  force  had  gathered  in  the  vicinity.  From  a  neighboring  forest 
the  slave-catchers  made  their  observations.  A  circle  of  men  was 
disposed  around  the  smoke-house,  and  at  the  proper  moment  the 
sheriff  and  lawyer  gave  the  signal  for  the  attack. 

"Now,  brave  men!"  cried  the  lawyer,  "swoop  down  on  it!1' 

And  with  energy  worthy  of  a  better  cause  they  descended  upon 
that  poor  inoffensive  structure.  In  a  moment  the  door  was  burst 
open,  and  thej^  saw  their  poor  victim  cowering  and  trembling  before 
them.     It  was  a  large,  healthy-looking  ram. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE    WELLINGTON    RESCUE. 

3|np6  attempt  to  bring  within  the  confines  of  a  single  chapter 
\|  r<~*-  anything  like  a  comprehensive  account  of  the  famous  Oberlin- 
Wellington  Rescue  is  impossible.  Only  a  meagre  sketch  of 
the  outlines  of  the  story  will  be  attempted,  and  even  that 
seems  like  the  thirteenth  labor  of  Hercules. 

In  1856  a  negro  slave,  known  as  John  Price,  escaped  from 
his  master,  John  G.  Bacon,  and  was  received  and  protected  by  Ober- 
linites. 

Two  years  later  a  neighbor  of  Bacon's  happened  on  a  visit  to  the 
place  in  search  of  certain  human  merchandise  pertaining  to  his  own 
family's  estate.  While  here  he  recognized  the  negro  Price,  and 
wrote  to  his  former  master  of  the  fact.  Bacon  immediately  sent 
north  one  P.  P.  Mitchell,  with  papers  authorizing  Jennings  to  ac- 
complish the  capture  of  Price.  Securing  legal  assistance,  Jennings 
accordingly  set  about  consummating  the  arrest. 

But  the  Oberlin  people,  always  on  the  alert  for  kidnappers,  sus- 
pected some  unhallowed  design,  and  it  became  necessary  to  change 
his  tactics.  He  therefore  availed  himself  of  the  assistance  of  a 
treacherous  farmer  living  three  miles  north  of  the  town.  Price  was 
persuaded  to  take  a  ride  out  of  town  with  this  farmer's  son  on  the 
13th  of  September,  1858,  and  when  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  cor- 
poration, was  captured  by  Jennings'  assistants.  By  a  circuitous 
route  the  party  then  proceeded  to  Wellington,  a  village  nine  miles 
south  of  Oberlin,  and  lodged  in  the  Wadsworth  House,  where  they 
were  joined  by  Jennings. 

But  on  the  way  they  were  met  by  a  couple  of  young  men  riding 
northward.  The  latter  immediately  hastened  their  pace  to  Oberlin, 
and  apprised  the  people  there  of  the  state  of  affairs.  This  was  be- 
tween one  and  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  Scarcely  a  word  was  said, 
but  the  citizens  and  students  of  Oberlin  started  south  in  eloquent 
silence.  Wagon  after  wagon  was  filled.  A  crowd  left  this  place 
estimated  at  from  two  to  three  hundred,  and  this  number  was  swelled, 
at  Wellington  to  five  or  six  hundred.  The  people  congregated  about 
the  hotel.     The  captors  of  the  negro  were  in  great  fright,  but  they 


THE  WELLINGTON  RESCUE.  37 

were  assured  that  no  harm  was  designed  for  them  personally.  The 
negro  was  the  person  the  crowd  demanded.  The  slave-catchers  then 
tried  to  persuade  their  prisoner  to  make  a  speech  and  say  that  he 
wanted  to  go  back  South  with  them.  So  John  appeared  on  the  hotel 
balcony,  with  the  persuaders  on  each  side  holding  him  fast,  and 
made  the  following  memorable  speech: 

"I  want  to  go  back,  because — because,  I  'spose  I  must." 

He  was  immediately  hurried  back  to  the  attic,  and  the  door  was 
barricaded.  Then  a  ladder  was  raised  to  the  one  window  in  the 
room  where  Price  was  concealed.  No  one  was  seriously  injured  in 
the  rescue.  Price  was  immediately  taken  north  to  Oberlin  again, 
and  for  years  the  place  of  his  concealment  was  a  secret.  Inquiry 
developed  the  interesting  fact  that  he  was  brought  by  J.  M.  Fitch 
and  Hon.  James  Monroe  (then  professor  in  the  college — now  an  ex- 
Congressman,  living  in  quiet  retirement  at  his  pleasant  home  in 
College  Place),  and  concealed  in  the  house  of  President  James  H. 
Fairchild  until  he  was  forwarded  to  Canada. 

The  slave  himself  was  a  rather  stupid  and  worthless  fellow,  but 
it  was  the  principle  for  which  the  people  were  contending. 

It  is  said  that  Jennings  and  crew  were  a  most  scared  looking  set 
at  Wellington.  They  knew  what  a  mob  was  in  the  South — how  they 
themselves  would  have  treated  the  Northerners;  and  the}^  thought 
that  it  was  all  over  with  them. 

Several  weeks  of  silent  wire-pulling  on  the  part  of  slave-holders 
followed,  and  on  the  7th  of  December  bills  were  issued  against  the 
following  famous  "37"  of  Lorain  county,  twenty-one  of  them  being 
prominent  residents  of  Oberlin.     These  names  were  as  follows : 

Prof.  H.  E.  Peck,  Lewis  Hines, 

John  H.  Scott,  Lorin  Wadsworth, 

Ansel  W.  Lyman,  Eli  Boies, 

David  Watson,  Richard  Winsor, 

Thos.  Gena,  John  Copeland, 

Wm.  Sciples,  J.  M.  Fitch,  (Spt.  'S.  S.), 

Matthew  DeWolf,  Jas.  R,  Shepard, 

Abner  Loveland,  Wilson  Evans, 

Chauncey  Goodyear,  William  Watson, 

Henry  D.  Niles,  Walter  Soules, 

Jas.  Bartlett,  John  Mandeville, 

Jeremiah  Fox,  John  Hartwell, 

Hon.  Ralph  Plumb,  Matthew  Gillett, 

Simeon  Bushnell,  Daniel  Williams, 

Henry  Evans,  Chas.  Langston, 

Wm.  E.  Scrimeger,  Wm.  E.  Lincoln, 


38  OBERLINIANA. 

0.  S.  B.  Wall,  Jas.  H.  Bartlett, 

John  Watson,.  R.  L.  Cummings, 

Franklin  Lewis. 

Marshal  Johnson  waited  upon  the  indicted.  So  complete  was  the 
confidence  reposed  in  the  promise  of  the  offenders  (?)  to  appear  in 
court  that  compulsion  was  not  thought  of.  At  the  proper  time 
all  those  who  had  been  visited  presented  themselves  at  the  depot, 
and  amid  the  huzzas  of  a  great  multitude  took  the  train  for  Cleve- 
land.    They  reported  themselves  ready  for  immediate  trial. 

This  discomfited  the  prosecution,  as  they  needed  more  time.  After 
much  debate  the  accused  were  dismissed  on  their  personal  recog- 
nizance. 

Between  this  and  the  time  set  for  their  re-appearance  there  occurred 
an  event  known  in  history  as  the  "Felon's  Feast  of  Oberlin."  The 
thirty-seven  indicted  sat  down  with  their  relatives  and  friends  to  a 
most  sumptuous  banquet  at  the  (then)  Palmer  House  in  this  place. 
Good  old  Father  Keep  invoked  the  Divine  blessing  in  a  few  touching 
words.  Letters  were  read  from  numerous  editors  and  public  officials, 
expressing  sympathy,  and  regretting  that  attendance  was  impossible. 
About  a  dozen  toasts  were  proposed,  and  responded  to  with  the 
eloquence  begot  of  the  sublime  occasion.  Among  these  toasts  were 
such  subjects  as  the  following:  "The  inalienable  rights  of  man;" 
"  Loyalty  to  God,  and  loyalty  to  human  government  when  it  is  loyal 
to  God;"  "The  prosecution!"  "The  Felons'  Feast;"  "The  37 
criminals  of  Lorain, — may  we  never  fall  into  worse  company!"  &c, 
<fec.  On  the  5th  of  April,  1859,  the  legal  proceedings  began.  The 
incidents  connected  with  the  arrests  were  some  of  them  of  interest. 
Wm.  E.  Lincoln  had  left  town  to  teach.  While  conducting  his 
school  he  was  forcibly  seized,  handcuffed  and  taken  to  the  Columbus 
jail.  He  was  subjected  to  a  fast  of  twenty-eight  hours,  and  con- 
fined in  a  filthy  room,  with  only  a  straw  pallet,  and  that  infested 
with  rats !  This  barbarous  treatment  because  he  had  obeyed  the 
injunction  of  the  "Golden  Rule!"  Venerable  Father  Gillett  was 
among  those  indicted.  The  prosecution  became  ashamed  of  their 
arrest  of  this  old  patriarch  and  several  other  eminently  worthy  old 
men,  and  did  everything  to  relieve  them  of  the  charge  afterwards. 
Father  Gillett  was  earnestly  besought  to  accept  the  privilege  of  re- 
lease, but  politely  declined. 

"  Will  you  go  home  if  you  are  turned  out  of  jail?"  inquired  the 
prosecution. 

"  If  the  choice  were  to  sleep  in  the  streets  or  go  home,  I  think  I 
should  go  home,"  he  replied,  shaking  with  merriment. 

And  they  turned  him  out. 


THE  WELLINGTON  RESCUE.  39 

The  trial  was  one  of  great  interest,  commanding  the  attention  of 
the  whole  country,  and  even  creating  no  inconsiderable  stir  across 
the  water.  Hon.  R.  P.  Spaulding,  Hon.  A.  G.  Kiddle,  and  S.  O. 
Griswold,  Esq.,  volunteered  their  services  free  for  the  defense,  and 
were  engaged.  The  trial  began  on  the  5th  of  April,  and  continued 
for  weeks.  The  Court  proceedings  have  been  condensed  so  as  to 
avoid  repetition,  and  published ;  they  cover  250  pages  of  fine  print. 
Some  of  the  pleas  consumed  days  in  their  delivery.  To  one 
reading  over  these  old  speeches  to-day,  they  are  very  impressive. 
What  must  they  have  been  to  that  great  audience  which  daily  packed 
the  Cleveland  court-room  in  the  midst  of  those  soul-stirring  times ! 

As  a  specimen  of  the  forensic  eloquence  displayed,  we  select  at 
random  a  single  passage  from  one  of  the  pleas  of  Mr.  Riddle,  imme- 
diately after  he  had  been  declaring  himself  a  votary  of  the  higher 
law.  He  said :  "  But  what  shall  I  say  of  that  being  who  would  betray 
one  so  unfortunate?  Oh,  that  were  a  treason  so  measureless  and 
profound,  that  the  years  of  God's  eternity  will  be  strained  to  punish 
|t !  *  *  *  *  j  have  nothing  to  do  with  enticing  slaves  away, 
nor  sympathy  with  those  who  do;  but  if  a  fugitive  comes  to  me  in 
his  flight  from  slavery;  if  he  is  in  need  of  food,  and  clothing,  and 
shelter,  and  rest,  and  comfort,  and  protection,  and  means  of  further 
flight; — if  he  needs  any  or  all  of  the  gentle  charities  which  a  Chris- 
tian man  may  render  to  any  human  being  under  any  circumstances, 
so  help  me  the  great  God  in  my  extremest  need,  he  shall  have  them 
all!" 

Doubtless  the  influence  of  Oberlin  in  this  rescue  was  a  very  im- 
portant factor  in  the  final  solution  of  the  slavery  question.  The 
Nation  awoke  to  the  fact  that  thirty-seven  men  were  in  jail  for 
obeying  conscience  and  the  injunction  of  Christ  too  faithfully. 
These,  moreover,  citizens  of  a  town  proverbial  far  and  wide  for  its 
extreme  morality.  Not  obscure  or  desperate  characters,  but  Chris- 
tians, pre-eminent  for  virtue,  and  many  of  them  prominent  men! 
One  a  Sabbath  school  superintendent,  one  a  Professor  in  a  Christian 
college,  &c. 

All  over  the  country  meetings  were  called  to  consider  the  action 
of  the  Lorain  county  citizens,  meetings  which  were  no  small  agency 
in  moulding  popular  sentiment  at  the  North.  Only  one 
of  these  gatherings  will  be  described.  A  call  was  sent  out 
for  a  mass  meeting  to  be  held  at  Cleveland,  May  24th.  Early  in 
the  morning  special  excursion  trains  began  to  arrive  in  advance  of 
the  heavily  laden  regular  trains.  An  Elyria  special  of  six  cars  was 
immediately  followed  by  an  Oberlin  special  of  thirteen  crowded 
coaches;  seven  cars  arrived  on  the  early  C.  C.  C.  &  I.  train,  sixteen 


40  OBERLIXIANA. 

on  the  Lake  Shore  east,  five  on  the  C.  &  P.,  nine  on  the  Mahoning 
road,  and  large  delegations  on  subsequent  trains  coming  hundreds 
of  miles.  A  magnificent  procession  was  formed  with  banners  ::nd 
mottoes  innumerable. 

The  throng  about  the  jail  was  indescribable.  The  long  addresses 
delivered  at  the  speakers'  stand  were  received  with  great 
enthusiasm,  being  patiently  listened  to  by  at  least  ten  thousand 
people,  and  thousands  were  unable  to  get  near  enough  to  hear.  The 
confined  Lorain  county  men  had  become  popular  and  were  made  the 
recipients  of  a  splendid  ovation.  Two  thousand  of  their  neighbors 
from  Oberlin  and  vicinity  shook  hands  with  them,  and  hundreds  of 
freemen  enjoyed  the  same  privilege,  by  reaching  over  the  high  board 
fence.  Langston,  Fitch,  Prof.  Peck,  and  Hon.  Ralph  Plumb,  of  the 
"criminals"  made  speeches  to  the  dense  crowd,  which  elicited  such 
thunders  of  applause  that  often  further  utterance  was  for  some  time 
impossible. 

As  popular  sentiment  was  elevated  the  prisoners  became  more  and 
more  lionized.  Excursions  from  all  over  the  country  to  the  Cleve- 
land jail  (which  then  stood  on  the  Public  Square),  were  frequent. 

On  one  occasion  the  scholars  of  the  Oberlin  Sabbath  school  of 
which  Mr.  Fitch  was  superintendent,  went  down  to  Cleveland  over 
400  strong.  One  of  the  most  touching  scenes  in  all  history  oc- 
curred when  this  band  applied  at  the  jail  to  see  their  beloved  super- 
intendent. 

They  came  under  the  direction  of  Prof.  J.  M.  Ellis,  still  of  this 
college.  At  the  depot  they  were  met  by  a  large  escort,  and  a  pro- 
cession formed,  headed  b}T  an  elegant  banner  thus  inscribed : 


1833.  OBERLIN  SABBATH  SCHOOL,  1859. 

J.  M.  Fitch,  Superintendent. 

"Stand  up  for  Jesus."  "Feed  My  Lambs." 

"Them  that  honor  Me,  I  will  honor." 


Each  class  was  also  provided  with  its  own  class  banners.  Le 
land's  band  headed  the  long  procession  of  children.  Altogether  it 
was  one  of  the  most  impressive  spectacles  ever  witnessed.  Interest- 
ing services  were  held  in  Plymouth  Church,  an  affecting  interview 
with  the  superintendent  enjoyed,  and  the  earnest  little  folks  re- 
turned home. 

It  is  exceedingly  interesting  to-day  to  read  the  daily  papers  of 


THE  WELLINGTON  RESCUE.  41 

that  time.  A  long  editorial  of  the  Cleveland  Herald  of  Saturday, 
April  16th,  showed  the  reason  why  the  indicted  thirty-seven  were 
not  acquitted.  It  states  that  every  man  of  the  petit  jury  was  an  ad- 
herent of  the  Democratic  party,  and  one  of  them  a  Deputy  U.  S. 
Marshal!  Added  to  this  was  the  outrage  of  justice  that  one  member 
of  the  grand  jury  was  the  father  of  the  betrayer  of  Price!  The  pro- 
secution took  the  most  indecent  advantage  in  many  other  ways  also; 
but  the  great  wrong  was  in  that  the  thirty-seven  were  condemned  by 
a  jury  which  had  prejudged  the  case.  The  prisoners  were  not  idle 
by  any  means  during  their  imprisonment.  After  they  had  been  in 
jail  for  some  time  they  began  to  issue  a  bi-monthly  publication, 
called  the  Rescuer.  Their  printing  office  was  5x10  feet.  They 
used  shackles  for  pounding  instruments.  A  few  quotations  are 
clipped   from  the  advertising  columns: 

PRINTERS  AND  BOOKSELLERS! 

Fitch  &  Bushnell, 

From  Oberlin,  O.,  *  *  *  have  established  themselves  in  the 
front  hall  of  Cleveland  jail,  where  the  Rescuer  is  published  every 
alternate  week.  Having  been  successful  in  securing  a  large  share 
of  Government  attention  we  expect,  presently,  to  do  a  great  deal  of 
Government  printing,  for  which  we  have  no  doubt  we  shall  get  our 
pay.  *  *  *  Bibles  and  Testaments  will  be  sold  to  Administra- 
tion Democrats  strictly  at  cost;  and  to  Lower  Law  men  generally  at 
very  low  rates,  etc. 

UPHOLSTERERS    AND    MATTRESS    MAKERS. 

Henry  Evans  &  Brother,  (late  of  Oberlin,  O.)  All  persons  who 
would  secure  a  visit  from  "Tired  nature's  sweet  restorer,  balmy 
sleep,"  will  please  call  and  examine  their  work.  You  can  rest  on 
their  beds  if  you  can  rest  anywhere.  Government  officials  need  not  ap- 
ply- 

BOOT  AND  SHOE  SHOP. 

James  Bartlett,  late  of  Oberlin,  O.,  feels  confident  that  he  can  be 
of  great  service  to  those  who,  from  constant  gyrations  in  the  dirt, 
have  damaged  their  soles. 

Lower  law  ministers,  hunkers,  and  cat- footed  politicians  of  all 
parties  are  particularly  invited  to  call. 

P.  S. — Hides  taken  in  exchange  for  work.  Dark  copper-eolor  greatly 
preferred. 


42  OBERLINIANA. 

This  "Rescuer"  became  very  popular.  Five  thousand  copies  of  the 
first  number  were  printed. 

The  rescuers  remained  in  prison  three  months  awaiting  the  trial 
to  which  they  had  been  doomed  by  the  long  preliminary  hearing. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  United  States  District  Attorney 
nolled  the  indictments,  on  condition  that  the  indictments  against 
the  Kentucky  kidnappers  should  also  be  nolled.  This  arrangement 
was  consummated  by  the  Lorain  county  authorities,  the  Oberlinites 
refusing  to  be  parties  to  the  arrangement.  The  prisoners  were  ac- 
cordingly set  free. 

Immediately  the  jail  was  besieged  by  thousands  of  sympathizers, 
one  hundred  guns  were  fired,  and  at  5  p.  m.  the  great  throng  moved 
to  the  depot,  headed  by  bands  of  music.  There  a  speech  was  made 
by  Judge  Brayton,  of  Newburgh.  Amidst  three  rousing  cheers,  the 
Oberlinites  entered  the  cars,  while  hearts  were  thrilled,  and  eyes 
suffused  with  tears,  as  the  band  played  the  peculiarly  moving  air  of 
"Home,  Sweet  Home." 

At  Oberlin  what  a  reception  awaited  the  rescuers !  Thousands 
lined  the  railroad  track,  and  packed  the  depot  premises.  Amid  the 
thunders  of  artillery  and  inspiring  martial  music,  the  prisoners 
landed.  Professor  Monroe  made  a  thrilling  address  of  welcome 
closing  with  these  words : 

"Erect,  as  God  made  you,  you  went  into  prison;  erect,  as  God 
made  you,  you  have  come  out  of  prison,  welcome !  Thrice  welcome ! 
Fathers  of  liberty!" 

Then  the  vast  company  moved  to  the  First  Church,  and  in  a  mo- 
ment the  great  building  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity.  Not 
less  than  3,000  souls  were  gathered  within  its  walls  according  to 
the  daily  papers.  The  decorations  were  very  elegant.  Each  rescuer 
was  presented  with  a  floral  wreath  and  bouquets  innumerable.  Un- 
til long  after  midnight  the  meeting  continued,  and  no  one  left  the 
church.  Nearly  all  the  rescuers  were  compelled  to  speak,  and'  such 
speeches!  They  are  soul-stirring  now;  what  must  have  been  their 
electric  effect  on  that  inspiring  occasion? 

Then  the  great  organ  pealed  forth,  "Praise  God  from  whom  all 
blessings  flow !"  and  the  audience,  led  by  a  choir  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  singers,  sang  as  never  before  or  since. 

A  few  days  later  Bushnell,  the  leading  "criminal,"  returned.  The 
long  train  was  loaded  with  enthusiastic  Clevelanders.  The  welcome 
address  was  made  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Fairchild.  After  three  cheers  and  a 
hundred  guns  the  company  adjourned  to  the  church,  which  was  again 
crowded.  The  entire  sweep  of  the  galleries  was  densel}T  packed  with 
ladies,  while  a  conspicuous  banner  announced : 


THE  WELLINGTON  RESCUE.  43 

THE    LADIES. 
1,000 

WELCOME  YOU. 

Thrice  Welcome. 
GREETING. 

The  great  choir  (which  was  then  characterized  by  the  Cleveland 
ress  as  unquestionably  the  finest  in  the  country)  sang  the  "Mar- 
^illaise  Hymn,"  and  the  ''Gathering  of  the  Free,1'  with  such  indes- 
ribably  thrilling  effect  that  heads  were  bowed  all  over  the  room 
ith  emotion.  Numerous  brilliant  speeches  were  made  by  those 
igh  in  authority,  resolutions  of  thanks  passed  to  Spaulding,  Backus, 
iddle  and  Griswold,  and  gold-headed  canes  presented  to  those  who 
ad  supported  with  substantial  aid  the  imprisoned  citizens. 

The  Cleveland  delegation  returned  late  at  night,  after  resolving 

at  Oberlin  was  "a  little  heaven  on  earth,"  and  her  music  nothing 
lort  of  a  prophecy  of  the  seraph  symphony. 

And  thus  ended  that  which  had  been  for  months  the  newspaper 
>nsation  of  the  time;  but  the  influence  of  the  rescue  and  subsequent 
mfinement  did  not  end  there.     It  had  moral  bearings,  and  created 

wave  of  public  sentiment  that  rolled  over  the  country  in  ever 
idening  circles,  and  at  last  found  its  full  fruition  in  the  triumph  of 
igher  law. 

*  # 

Professor  Churchill  relates  the  following  in  connection  with  this 
iibilee  meeting:  "Deacon  "  Gray,  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Cleve- 
nd  Plain  Dealer,  was  present  with  the  intention  of  writing  an 
Dusive  article  about  the  meeting,  in  accordance  with  the  Plain 
ealer's  former  principles.  Being  found  out,  he  was  given  a  seat  on 
le  platform  as  a  reporter.  Miss  Lois  M.  Church  ('58),  afterward 
rs.  John  G.  Cowles,  had  been  appointed  to  sing  the  Marseillaise 
ymn,  and  this  she  did  with  great  beauty  and  power,  the  choir  and 
mgregation,  under  the  direction  of  Prof.  Allen,  unexpectedly  join- 
g  in  the  chorus.  Every  one  was  deeply  affected,  and  "  Deacon  " 
ray  was  seen  to  wipe  the  tears  from  his  e}^es.  He  went  away  and 
rote  a  highly  appreciative  and  eulogistic  account  of  the  entire 
irformance.  His  article  appeared  in  the  Plain  Dealer,  and  in 
•nsequenee  the  Democratic  press  was  greatly  enraged.  The  author 
as  called  the  vilest  names,  the  papers  charging  that  he  had 
trayed  the  party  by  supporting  Oberlin.  Mr.  Gray  afterwards 
feme  a  Republican,  left  the  Plain  Dealer  and  fought  in  the  war 
ith  the  Union  army. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

FAMOUS  COLLEGE    PRANKg. 

WE  glory  iii  the  absence  of  hazing  and  rushes  at  our  insii 
tution.  Of  the  few  annual  practices  of  a  little  irregul 
nature,  which  do  prevail  at  Oberlin,  however,  none  h: 
become  quite  so  tyranical  from  long  observance  as  th 
in  accordance  with  which  the  Juniors  fly  a  flag  from  tli 
top  of  the  Chapel  dome  on  "  Junior  Ex."  day.  Ordinari 
this  custom  is  quietly  permitted  b}T  the  Faculty,  and  tolerated  1 
the  lower  classes.  Sometimes,  however,  the  Sophomores  take  ocdt 
sion  to  "  lower  the  rag,"  and  elevate  instead  the  emblems  of  1 
skull  and  cross  bones,  with  their  own  class  colors  attached.  Thi 
sentinels  may  be  seen  pacing  back  and  forth  in  front  of  the  Chap 
Might  frequently  triumphs  over  other  considerations,  and  on  m 
occasions  the  Faculty  feel  called   upon  to  tu  mildly  suggest." 

Recently  the  writer  was  speeding  along  between  Cleveland  a) 
Cincinnati  on  the  night  express.  It  was  after  midnight,  and  3 
Morpheus  seemed  to  have  no  charms  potent  enough  to  conquer  t 
weary  frame.  At  length  the  profitless  quest  of  slumber  was  giv 
over  in  disgust. 

Suddenly  a  single  word  caught  the  ear  of  the  disgruntled  travel 
It  was  the  onbr  audible  word  that  could  be  distinguished,  but  itw 
enough,  for  it  was  the  talismahic  word  "  Oberlin," — a  key  whii 
is  alway s  potent  to  unlock  the  distance  and  reserve  which  nji 
separate  an}r  two  children  of  the  parent  school.  In  a  moral 
the  listener  and  the  speaker  had  gravitated  together  in  obediei 
to  a  prompting  instinct,  and  then  the  midnight  hours  passed  rapid 
The  passenger  who  had  pronounced  the  magic  word  proved  to  b< 
Avell  known  Alumnus,  resident  in  Chicago,  and  during  the  pleas* 
interview  which  followed,  he  related  an  exceedingly  interesting' 
currence  at  Oberlin  during  his  college  days. 

How  often  it  happens  that  thus,  far  away  from  the  prolific  mot) 
to  whom  we  all  look  back  with  such  kindly  feeling,  in  the  dead 
night  it  may  be,  two  strangers  meet,  only  to  find  themselves  alrea 
acquainted,  as  it  were,  by  such  a  proxy! 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  of  the  sawdust  processions  of  a  little  oj 
two  decades  a^o?"    lie  enquired. 


FAMOUS  COLLEGE  PRANKS.  45 

No,  sir." 

They  were  a  great  institution.  That  was  in  the  days  when  the 
irst  Church  was  uncarpeted,  and  it  was  customary  to  deaden  the 
>und  during  each  commencement  occasion  by  strewing  the  floor 
"th  sawdust,  two  or  three  inches  deep.  The  Juniors  had  general 
arge  of  the  arrangements  for  commencement,  just  as  they  do 
>w;  but  the  Sophomores  used  to  attend  to  providing  this  sawdust, 
ence  the  origin  and  rise  of  the  sawdust  processions  as  a  college 
stitution.  It  was  customary  for  the  Sophomores  to  procure  horses, 
asquerade  in  innocent  fun,  and  each  man  carry  a  bag  of  sawdust 
fore  him  on  the  beast  assigned  to  him.  When  there  were  fifty  or 
xty  members  in  a  class,  the  horses  were  walked  about  fifty  feet 
>art,  making  a  procession  over  half  a  mile  long,  grotesque  in  the 
treme  as  it  pursued  its  triumphal  march  to  the  church. 
"But  the  ladies  of  the  church  decided  to  have  the  building  car- 
ted, and  that,  of  course,  foreshadowed  the  end  of  this  an- 
lal  anniversary.  The  change  was  effected  in  1860,  I  believe,  and 
e  Sophomore  class  of  that  year  took  advantage  of  the  occasion  to 
ake  a  farewell  demonstration  of  the  sawdust  order,  even  though 
primal  excuse  for  the  celebration  no  longer  existed.  It  was  a 
using  affair. 

All  the  boniest  and  most  wretched  looking  horses  in  town  were 
cured  for  the  parade,  which  took  place  just  at  dusk.  Oh,  how 
iriousfy  the  boys  were  made  up!  I  shall  never  forget  it.  Some 
3re  artificial  horns.  Nearly  every  profession  was  caricatured, 
here  was  one  wagon  load  of  imps, — students  dressed  in  black,  with 
tificial  tails,  horns,  &c,  and  provided  with  springs  to  their  feet,  so 
at  as  the  wagon  moved  along  they  could  hop  out  of  it  and  into  it 
a  curious  demoniacal  way.  Many  of  the  bo}Ts  wore  various-colored 
•hts,  and  as  for  the  masks,  they  were  hideous  indeed. 
"The  procession  started  by  very  much  such  a  signal  as  started 
ml  Revere  on  his  memorable  ride.  Suddenly,  as  if  by  magic,  a  red 
ht  gleamed  at  the  top  of  the  old  flag  staff  on  the  Square.  You  re- 
3mber  where  the  masts  have  always  stood — right  where  that 
tnerican  rival  of  the  Leaning  Tower  of  Pisa  stood  for  so  many 
ars.  Well,  I  manipulated  that  light,  and  I  don't  mind  telling 
u  .how  it  was  done.  A  red  lantern  had  previously  been  hauled  to 
e  top  of  the  staff,  already  lighted,  but  encased  in  a  dark  sack,  to 
e  bottom  of  which  was  attached  a  cord.  I  held  the  cord,  and  at 
e  proper  moment  pulled  off  the  sack.  It  was  a  powerful  light,  and 
►pearing  so  suddenly  it  produced  quite  a  sensation.  In  order  to 
ive  a  correct  picture  of  the  occasion  you  must  remember  that  there 
ire  about  4,000  people  in  the  Park,  on  the  qui  vive  for  a  demonstrn- 
)n. 


46  OBERLIXIANA. 

"It  was  a  tempus  indeed,  and  yet  I  cannot  think  of  a  mean  thing 
or  a  caricature  calculated  to  injure  any  one's  feelings,  connecte( 
with  the  whole  affair.  We  paraded  the  principal  streets  of  tin 
town,  and  then  came  back  to  the  centre  of  the  Campus,  where  w< 
had  reared  a  large  altar  during  the  day.  One  of  the  principal  fea 
tures  of  the  procession  was  a  bull  which  was  led  around  by  tin 
horns,  and  it  was  the  intention  to  slay  this  animal  on  the  altar  ii 
question,  and  offer  him  up  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  gods.  His  bullshi] 
became  excited,  however,  by  the  noise  and  the  display,  and  ran  awaj 
thus  escaping  immolation. 

"Not  satisfied,  however,  at  being  cheated  out  of  their  barbecue 
the  boys  procured  their  old  school  books  and  solemnly  burned  then] 
notwithstanding  the  protest  of  the  Faculty  at  this  action.  Addresses 
funeral  orations,  and  a  general  panegyric  over  the  consumed  classic 
followed,  and  an  endless  amount  of  fun  was  had. 

"Yes,  the  boys  were  a  little  wild  on  that  occasion.  Not  lawless,  o 
careless  of  the  feelings  of  others  but  simply  a  little  effervescent,  i 
I  may  employ  such  a  term.  No  doubt  the  Faculty  would  have  had 
to  interfere,  did  the  next  class  show  a  disposition  to  repeat  the  de 
monstration.  But  the  war  came  then,  and  it  sobered  us  all.  At 
3res,  the  war  knocked  all  the  nonsense  out  of  us.  How  soon  it  wa 
after  this  affair  that  some  of  the  jolliest  spirits  in  our  number  gav< 
up  everything  in  the  defense  of  principles  taught  pre-eminently  ai 
Oberlin,  thus  proving  that  they  could  be  serious.  The}T  demonstrate* 
then  the  genuineness  of  the  stuff'  in  them  by  yielding  up  their  lives 
Shall  I  blame  them  as  I  first  remember  their  bright  happy  faces  01 
that  memorable  night,  and  then  think  of  the  scarred,  ghastly  facei 
and  gaping  wounds  that  looked  up  from  the  field  of  battle  so  sooi 
after?" 

"But  here  we  are,'1  he  continued,  as  a  prolonged  shriek  from  tin 
engine  announced  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  Dayton. 

And  with  a  pleasant  "Good  night,"  he  was  gone. 

* 

*  ■* 

Professor  Cochran,  one  of  the  early  instructors  in  mathematics 
was  an  exceedingly  nervous  man,  susceptible  to  certain  kinds  o 
annoyance,  and  very  quick  in  expressing  himself.  One  day  whil 
at  the  blackboard,  in  the  course  of  a  recitation  by  the  class  of  1847 
his  lingers  rubbed  against  the  board  with  a  disagreeable  soun< 
while  he  was  using  a  well  worn  eraser.  Quick  as  the  thought,  hi 
observe  1: 

"  I  wish  some  of  you  would  bring  in  a  sheep  some  da}r,  if  you  ca 
find  one  handy." 

Now,  there  was  in  the  class  a  bright  young  man  named  Robert 


FAMOUS  COLLEGE  PRANKS.  47 

Kedzie,  (now  a  distinguished  chemist,  and  the  father  of  our  own 
lamented  Prof.  Kedzie),  who  was  noted  for  the  celerity  with  which 
he  acted  when  overtaken  by  an  impulse.  The  next  day  this  young- 
man — "Bob"  Kedzie  they  called  him — was  walking  through  the 
Campus  to  recitation,  when  he  espied  a  sheep  grazing  quietly  near 
b}\  Quick  as  a  flash  he  dropped  his  books,  seized  the  astonished 
animal,  conveyed  it  to  the  recitation  room,  and  attached  it  to  one  of 
the  legs  of  Prof.  Cochran's  table.  Unfortunately,  Prof.  Cochran 
had  forgotten  his  own  words,  and  not  seeing  the  propriety  of  the 
joke,  made  it  a  more  serious  affair  than  he  would  have  done,  had  the 
relevancy  of  the  whole  proceeding  dawned  upon  him  immediately. 


Did  any  one  ever  wonder  why  the  gorilla  of  the  Oberlin  museum 
is  so  devoid  of  that  customary  external  covering  of  his  species — 
hair?  It  happened  in  this  wise:  One  night  at  the  time  when  the 
Soldiers'  Monument  was  building  ou  Second  Church  Square,  some 
college  boys  resolved  that  they  must  do  something  to  break  the 
monotony.  Accordingly  they  proceeded  to  the  College  Cabinet, 
broke  down  the  door,  entered  the  room,  and  triumphantly  bore  his 
apeship  away. 

Hurrying  along  down  South  Professor  street,  with  their  strange 
prize,  it  occurred  to  them  that  no  more  conspicuous  place  for  depos- 
iting it  could  be  found  than  on  the  new  monument.  Accordingly 
one  of  the  boys  ran  over  into  the  Ladies'  Hall  premises  and  purloined 
a  night- shirt  from  the  clothes-line.  With  this  and  some  other  arti- 
cles of  clothing  they  rigged  up  the  poor  gorilla  artistically.  Then 
they  fastened  a  rope  about  his  neck  and  elevated  him  by  means  of 
the  derrick  until  he  was  iguominiously  suspended  over  the  monu- 
ment about  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  There  he  was  left  till 
morning,  when  the  natives  near  by  were  considerably  astonished  at 
the  sight.  Some  early  risers  made  the  discovery,  and  rushed  to  the 
spot  at  once,  greatly  horrified  to  think  that  a  lynching  had  been 
perpetrated  right  within  the  borders  of  consecrated  Oberlin.  The 
truth  was  speedily  comprehended,  and  the  gorilla  promptly  returned 
to  his  accustomed  haunts  in  the  museum. 

But  this  was  not  all.  The  night  was  a  chilly  one,  and  that  gorilla 
took  a  severe  cold !  It  was  discovered  soon  after  that  the  skin  had 
been  greatly  damaged  by  the  frost,  and  that  the  hair  was  coming- 
out.  The  raw  night  air,  the  fright  of  the  gorilla  at  such  rough 
handling,  and  perhaps  more  than  all  else,  his  humiliation  and  mor- 
tification at  such  a  public  exposure,  seem  to  have  brought  about 
this  effect.  Even  to-day  visitors  to  the  Museum  comment  upon  this 
paucity  of  hair  and   the  hang-clog  look   with   which    his    apeship 


48  OBERLINIANA. 

surve3Ts  all  invaders;  but  few  have  any  idea  of  the  harrowing  expe- 
rience which  brought  about  both  these  characteristics. 


No  college  has  fulfilled  its  destiny  until  some  extensive  prank  has 
been  indulged  in  at  the  expense  of  the  Chapel  bell.  Oberlin  passed 
through  this  critical  experience  about  the  year  1870.  One  morning 
the  bell-ringer  discovered,  to  his  consternation,  that  the  manipula- 
tion of  the  Chapel  rope  failed  to  awaken  the  matin  echoes  as  usual, 
and  ascending  to  the  cupola,  found  that  the  clapper  had  been  re- 
moved. The  Faculty  instituted  an  investigation,  but  the  guilty 
parties  had  sworn  eternal  secrecy,  and  nothing  could  be  learned.  A 
temporary  clapper  was  constructed  by  welding  an  iron  rod  to  a 
cannon  ball,  and  Treasurer  Kinne}^  offered  a  reward  of  $100  for  the 
apprehension  of  the  culprits. 

After  two  or  three  weeks  had  elapsed,  and  no  clue  to  the  offenders 
had  been  discovered,  a  new  clapper  was  ordered  from  Troy,  N.  Y. 
Afterwards  the  stolen  one  was  discovered  where  the  present  base 
ball  park  is  located,  and  so  there  are  probably  two  tongues  to  the 
college  bell  on  hand  somewhere  to-day.  Subsequently  the  conspir- 
acy was  ferreted  out,  several  students  arrested  for  complicity  in  it, 
and  substantial  fines  administered.  The  ring-leader,  a  Findla}r 
youth,  was  discovered  by  means  of  the  confession  of  his  room-mate 
that  he  had  noticed  him  spend  considerable  time  in  cleansing  his 
hands,  on  the  night  when  the  mischief  was  done.  The  quantity  of 
grease  on  the  clapper  would  account  for  such  an  extended  ablution, 
and  a  little  justifiable  "  bluff"  on  the  part  of  the  Faculty,  extorted 
confessions. 

*  * 

Oberlin  students  have  alwaj^s  possessed  an  instinctive  aversion 
for  disorder  and  dilapidation.  It  thus  happens  that  on  several  oc- 
casions the}'-  have  felt  called  upon,  when  they  observed  about  them 
college  sidewalks  that  had  outlived  their  usefulness,  to  take  steps 
toward  answering  their  own  prayers,  as  Finney  would  say,  for  new 
ones.  Once  when  the  walk  extending  through  Tappan  Square,  and 
through  the  center  of  Tappan  Hall  also  at  that  time,  was  in  such 
a  decayed  condition  that  it  was  rather  dangerous.  The  executive 
committee  of  the  college  did  not  have  the  funds  at  the  time  with 
which  to  renew  the  walks.  Accordingly  one  night  the  boys  tore  up 
the  entire  walk  and  dumped  it  to  one  side.  This  firm  but  some- 
what audacious  course  secured  the  blessing  sought.  On  another 
occasion  they  paid  the  penalty  of  a  similar  rashness  by  replacing 
the  walk.  President  Finney  prayed  publicly  for  the  offenders  on 
each  occasion. 


FAMOUS  COLLEGE  PRANKS.  49' 

The  following  story  is  told  of  Dr.  Dascomb :  There  used  to  be  a 
fine  grape  vine  growing  around  and  over  the  back  window  of  the 
Laboratory.  Some  of  the  boys  on  their  mischievous  rambles  used 
to  steal  grapes  from  it.  So  the  Doctor  hit  on  a  way  to  stop  them. 
He  put  phosphorous  in  the  eye  sockets  of  the  college  skeleton  and 
placed  it  close  behind  the  window.  The  next  morning  torn  leaves 
and  trampled  ground  told  the  story  of  the  hasty  flight  of  a  young- 
grape  thief.     The  Doctor's  grapes  were  thereafter  safe. 


Monday  evening,  September  25th,  1876,  witnessed  Oberlin's  first 
and  only  cane  rush.  The  Freshmen  had  felt  their  dignity  injured 
because  the  Senior  Prep's,  had  provided  themselves  with  canes.  Ac- 
cordingly, after  Chapel  prayers,  a  number  ol  Freshmen  fell  upon  a 
a  group  of  the  offenders  near  the  south  entrance  of  the  Campus. 
The  ensuing  scuffle  ended  by  the  appearance  of  the  marshal. 
The  Senior  Preps,  succeeded  in  taking  away  the  cane  of  one  Fresh- 
man, and  this  was  sawed  into  bits  and  distributed  as  relics.  Next 
evening  the  President  expressed  his  disapprobation,  and  "cane  rush- 
ing" became  a  thing  of  history  only. 

*  .     -* 

Along  in  1842  or  thereabouts  the  Oberlin  Squad  was  organized, 
with  a  view  to  ultimately  forming  a  military  company.  The  Squad 
was  made  up  entirely  of  the  colonists,  a  term  about  synonymous 
with  the  term  "mix"  in  common  use  at  some  other  colleges,  and 
meaning  the  town  people.  Alonzo  Pease,  the  artist,  had  a  good  deal 
of  the  martial  spirit,  and  was  chosen  captain.  The  sight  of  this 
Squad,  forever  drilling  on  or  about  the  Campus,  seemed  to  irritate 
the  college  boys,  and  after  a  time  some  of  the  more  mischievous  ones 
organized  a  movement  to  caricature  the  enterprise.  Accordingly  an 
equal  number  of  students  banded  together,  and  each  one  was  as- 
signed the  duty  of  burlesquing  some  particular  member  of  the  ob- 
noxious Squad.  Of  course  every  one  took  it  upon  himself  to  mag- 
nify the  peculiarities  of  the  person  whom  he  was  caricaturing.  The 
mock  Squad  as  it  appeared  upon  the  street  presented  one  of  the 
most  comical  sights  ever  seen  in  Oberlin.  Crooked  legs,  hooked 
noses,  distorted  stomachs,  and  all  sorts  of  deformities  were  to  be 
seen,  while  the  costumes  were  irresistably  ludicrous.  Equipped 
with  tomahawks,  cheese  knives,  shillalahs,  agricultural  implements, 
potato-mashers,  etc.,  and  bearing  absurd  mottoes  aloft,  this  modern 
light  brigade  sallied  forth. 

Of  course  this  sight  was  not  calculated  to  please  the  noble  Squad; 
but  when  the  blare  of  fish  horns  and  horse-fiddles  smote  the  air  the 


50  OBERLINIANA. 

indignation  was  exceeding  great.  Captain  Pease  ordered  his  com- 
pany to  face  about,  and  discharge  their  weapons  at  the  foe  behind 
them.     This  the  gallant  members  of  the  Squad  did. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  one  or  two  of  the  members  had  disobeyed 
the  military  regulations  by  loading  their  guns  with  gravel  in- 
stead of  using  blank  cartriges.  Accordingly  when  the  order  "Fire !" 
was  given,  they  smote  the  mock  squad  hip  and  thigh.  The  hand  of 
a  standard  bearer  was  quite  seriously  wounded.  This,  in  turn,  en- 
raged the  burlesquing  students,  and  they  took  the  matter  to  the 
courts.  Proceeding  to  Gibb's  Tavern,  a  small  hotel,  half  way  be- 
tween Elyria  and  Oberlin,  they  got  warrents  sworn  out  for  the  ar- 
rest of  Pease  and  other  "townies."  A  long  legal  war  followed,  which 
was  finally  allowed  by  mutual  consent  to  lapse,  after  having  reached 
the  county  courts.  But  this  experience  effectually  broke  up  the 
Squad. 

CHAPTER  V. 

OBERLIN    ODDITIES. 

Oberlin  laundry-man  is  a  very  positive  character.  In 
^  JL  fact  he  is  original  and  in  all  his  traits  thoroughly  sui  generis. 
*  He  is  a  tyrant  in  his  way,  and  almost  as  much  to  be  feared 
as  the  Oberlin  hackman;  yet  both  personages  serve  the 
public  at  a  marvellously  low  price.  The  ubiquitous  "Chinee" 
has  of  course  discovered  this  washman's  El  Dorado  of  North- 
ern Ohio. 

Lest  the  writer  should  be  led  into  exaggeration  in  a  matter 
in  which  it  is  so  difficult  to  speak  calmly,  it  has  been  decided  to 
copy  verbatim  a  few  pages  from  an  authentic  diary.  The  record 
therein  contained  is  deemed  typical  of  many  experiences. 

Oberlin,  April  11,  1878. 
This  has  been  my  first  Monday  in   Oberlin.     It  has  been  a  mem- 
orable dajr.     As  I  was  dressing  for  breakfast,  filled  with  pleasant 
anticipations  of  the  morning  repast,  there  came  a  hnrried  knock  at 
my  door.     I  opened  and  beheld  a  great  burly  colored  man. 

"Have  you  got  anyone  to  do  your  washing  this  term?1'  he  in- 
quired. 

I  evaded  a  reply  and  dismissed  him,  thinking  I  would  investigate 
before  I  engaged  one.  In  a  moment  more  there  came  another  rap 
at  the  door,  and  an  enormous  colored  woman  entered,  whose  weight 
I  should  place  at  three  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  avoirdupois,  if  I 
was  called  upon  to  commit  myself  on  the  subject.  She  was  evi- 
dently much  agitated. 


OBERLIN  ODDITIES.  51 

•What  is  the  cause  of  this  unnatural  emotion,  my  good  woman?" 
I  inquired. 

"Oh,  sir,"  she  replied,  and  her  eyes 'tilled  with  tears,  "I  thought 
perhaps  you  might  be  willing  to  engage  me  to  do  your  washing  this 
term." 

She  had   hardly  disappeared  when  a  little  boy  was   ushered  in. 

"Ma  wanted  me  to  call  and  see  if  you  didn't  want  her  to  do  your 
washing  this  term,"  he  placidly  remarked. 

I  picked  up  a  club  which  lay  upon  the  table,  brained  the  little 
fellow,  and  had  just  time  to  toss  his  remains  into  a  closet,  when 
the  door  opened  again,  and  an  aged  negro  man,  perhaps  a  hundred 
and  seventy-live  }7ears  of  age,  appeared. 

"My  dear  young  man,'1  he  began,  drawing  me  confidentially  aside; 
"I  should  feel  very  happy  indeed, — I  would  even  be  glad  to  lie  down 
and  die  in  peace, — if  I  thought  that  you  might  be  persuaded  to  let 
out  your  washing  to  me  for  this — ". 

"Sir,"  I  exclaimed,  "you  are  an  old  man.  Perhaps  you  are  a 
father.  If  you  will  quit  this  spot  immediately,  I  will  have  rever- 
ence for  your  grey  hair  and  allow  you  to  depart  in  peace.  Other- 
wise you  may  have  occasion  to  lie  down  and  die  in  pieces  sooner 
than  you  propose  to  do  so.     You  see  the  door!" 

He  left  quite  hurriedly,  and  I  bolted  and  barred  the  door  after 
him.  After  that  there  came  repeated  knocks  at  the  door,  but  I  did 
not  answer  them.  I  went  to  the  window  and  looked  out  through  the 
shutters.  Behold,  there  was  congregated  below  a  surging,  seething 
mass  of  human  beings,  all  contending  for  the  nearest  position  to 
the  door.  There  were  old  and  young,  male  and  female,  black  and 
white,  and  members  of  all  races  of  people  extant;  there  were  the 
blind,  the  lame,  the  halt,  the  dumb,  and  representatives  of  every 
condition  of  humanity.  Some  were  armed  with  immense  market- 
baskets;  others  had  backed  ambulances  up  to  the  door,  waiting  to 
cany  away  the  articles  of  soiled  clothing  I  had  on  hand.  Many 
were  fighting  among  themselves  to  secure  the  most  eligible  positions 
in  the  crowd.  I  counted  nine  thousand  human  beings.  At  last,  in 
desperation,  I  rushed  to  one  of  the  rear  windows  of  the  apartment, 
and  raising  it,  threw  myself  out  on  the  pavement  below,  and 
perished.         *         *         * 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  post  mortem  wail,  which  voices  the 
experience  of  so  many  students  past  and  present,  will  be  accepted 
as  entirely  reliable. 


A  freak  of  the  early  times  was  a  fashion  of  painting  the  houses  of 
this  consecrated  community  red.     Perhaps   there   was   no  distinct 


. 


52  OBERLINIANA. 

object  in  this.  The  Oberlin  people  were  doubtless  a  peculiar  peo- 
ple,— though  never  obtrusively  so, — and  they  did  many  things  simply 
to  foster  in  their  midst  a  sort  of  Christian  communism.  A  few 
houses  remain  to-day  of  the  conventional  red  color,  to  tell  the  story 
of  this  eccentricity.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  remark  that  in  this 
respegt,  at  least,  the  Oberlin  fathers  were  forestalling  later  fashion. 

* 
*  * 

When  .Tappan  Hall  was  painted  the  principle  of  employing  stu- 
dent labor  wherever  possible,  was  followed.  There  are  those  to-day 
occupying  prominent  positions  of  trust,  who  assisted  in  this  work, 
some  of  them  without  having  ever  touched  a  paint  brush  before  So, 
also,  there  are  those  living  who  helped  to  shingle  the  first  church, 
and  who  remember  the  circumstance  with  pride.  This  patronage  of 
student  labor  is  still  characteristic  of  Oberlin. 


Oberlin  mud  is  proverbial.  This  is  not  only  because  there  is  so 
much  of  it,  but  because  it  is  so  treacherous.  It  is  only  on  rare  occa- 
sions that  the  streets  become  so  flooded  with  the  article  in  question 
in  its  liquid  form,  that  gondolas  have  to  be  resorted  to;  but  verily 
the  wicked  stand  in  slippery  places  after  a  soaking  rain.  Many  a 
time  does  the  stray  masher,  (for,  alas!  it  cannot  be  denied  that 
there  are  a  few  stray  mashers  even  in  Oberlin,)  feel  his  underpin- 
ning get  tangled  up,  perform  a  few  mathematical^  impossible 
gyrations,  and  then,  after  a  few  moments  in  a  semi-devotional  atti- 
tude, retire  ignominiously  behind  the  corner,  while  the  sensible  girls, 
who  were  the  unwilling  objects  of  his  overtures,  retire  behind  their 
handkerchiefs. 

But  the  tantalizing  part  of  it  is  that  there  is  not  sufficient  dis- 
crimination shown  by  the  Oberlin  mud.  The  good  as  well  as  the 
wicked  stand  in  slippery  places.  As  an  instance  of  this  it  may  be 
well  to  state  that  the  saintly  Mrs.  Dascomb  was  the  first  female 
victim  to  this  want  of  discrimination.  As  she  alighted  from  the 
vehicle  in  which  she  arrived  in  town  for  the  first  time,  she  left  one 
of  her  rubbers  sticking  fast  in  the  mud  of  the  gutter! 

*  * 

From  time  immemorial  secret  Societies  have  been  prohibited  in 
Oberlin,  but  from  time  immemorial  select  little  circles  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  particularly  those  comprising  a  "  table  "  at  Ladies'  Hall, 
have  had  their  private  organizations. 

Each  of  these  societies  has  its  constitution,  by-laws,  officers,  pun- 
i» corder,  periodical  candy  pulls,  pancake  matches  and  literary 
gatherings — oftenest  in  the  large,  "motherly"  ironino-room  of  the 


OBKRLIN  ODDITIES.  53 

hall.  Several  of  them  have  even  established  table  colors,  table 
songs,  table  rings,  and  similar  auxiliary  features.  These  societies 
usually  keep  up  a  circulating  letter  after  leaving  college.  These  are 
among  the  amenities  of  "co-education." 


Oberlin  has  been  the  theatre  of  all  kinds  of  crazes  in  its  day, — 
especially  those  of  a  religious  or  scientific  nature.  The  intensity  of 
belief  and  earnestness  of  life  characteristic  of  the  young  colony,  are 
illustrated  by  some  of  the  discussions  which  took  the  town  by  storm, 
and  engaged  the  thought  of  every  man,  woman  and  child  for  a  time. 
Once  the  subject  of  second  adventism  absorbed  universal  attention. 
A  good  brother,  in  his  advent  zeal  sold  his  shelf  of  books,  to  print 
an  Appeal.  The  marrow  of  it  was,  that  if  the  day  was  "near"  in 
Paul's  time,  it  must  be  very  near  now.  This  Appeal  was  placed 
under  each  plate  at  the  Boarding  Hall.  Another  student  equally 
zealous  on  the  other  side  of  the  question,  wrote:  "If  it  takes  1800 
years  to  get  from  near  to  very  near,  how  long  before  it  will  come?" 
and  passed  this  comment  around  the  tables. 

*  * 

Even  the  attention  of  such  men  as  the  wise  Dr.  Dascomb  was 
directed  into  certain  of  these  subjects.  Before  the  colony  was  ten 
years  old  the  "Vegetable  Diet"  craze,  if  it  may  be  so  styled,  engaged 
general  attention.  Mr.  C.  H.  Baldwin  describes  this  craze  in  an 
interesting  way.     He  says: 

"In  the  spring  of  '39  I  returned  from  teaching,  with  extra  fat  and 
muscle.  Dr.  Dascomb  offered  me  a  room  in  the  Laboratory,  and  a 
seat  at  his  table,  to  make,  with  him  and  his  family  a  test  of  vegetable 
diet.  We  had  no  meat,  salt,  pepper,  grease  or  cream,  or  any  condi- 
ment seasoning.  We  kept  it  up  honestly  for  sixteen  weeks.  When 
green  peas  came  on,  boiled  in  filtered  rain  water  only,  the  doctor 
said  the}^  tasted  '  a  little  flashy' !  I  brought  home,  one  day,  a  fine 
fat  chicken,  and  asked  the  Doctor  if,  Iry  some  occult  rules  of  logic, 
we  could  not  prove  it  to  be  a  vegetable,  in  its  last  or  first  analysis. 
The  Doctor  was  too  earnest  to  joke,  or  take  one;  so  the  chicken  went 
untasted,  and  we  feasted  still  on  '  flashy  peas.'  I  lost  sixteen  pounds 
in  sixteen  weeks,  and  got  low  down.  I  offered  the  road  master 
twenty-five  cents  to  commute  my  two  days'  labor.  He  refused,  but 
at  the  close  of  the  day  said  he  had  missed  it  in  not  taking  me  up ! 
That  evening  I  was  invited  out  to  a  turkey  supper,  and  gave  up 
'pure  vegetable  diet/     Soon  the  Doctor  gave  it  up  too." 

Dr.  Dascomb  also  played  an  active  part  when  the  "  Spiritualistic 


54  OBERLINIANA. 

Wave  "  rolled  over  the  community.  He  was  not  too  dignified  or 
too  learned  to  investigate  any  subject,  and  he  could  not  endure  the 
idea  of  being  baffled  in  an  investigation.  Accordingly,  when  •  all 
the  boys  were  sitting  for  manifestations,  and  he  heard  that  they  were 
getting  table-tippings,  spirit-rappings,  etc.,  he  asked  permission  to 
join  their  circle,  and  became  one  of  them  for  the  time  being.  It  is 
not  recorded  that  anything  was  revealed  at  these  seances  for  which 
he  failed  to  account,  and  his  business-like  challenging  of  the  spirits 
soon  dissipated  all  mystery. 

■A 

■*  * 

Along  in  '48  a  mania  prevailed  at  Oberlin,  which  may  appropri- 
ately be  termed  the  "  ice  water  bath  mania."  Experimentalists  in 
everything,  the  students  decided  by  a  practical  test  to  discover  the 
merits  or  demerits  of  the  morning  bath  system,  with  cold  water  and 
a  tireless  apartment  as  features.  Even  when  the  weather  was  be- 
low zero  they  would  break  the  ice  in  a  pail  of  water  on  rising,  and 
apply  the  cruel  water  from  "top  to  toe."  By  a  fearful  experience 
they  satisfied  themselves  that  the  more  comfortable  way  was  equally 
healthy.  Many  early  students  will  remember  an  accident  that  befel 
a  Junior  named  J.  Tuckerman,  (later  Professor  Tuckerman  of  the 
New  Lyme  Academy,  Ashtabula  county),  about  this  time.  He  fell 
into  the  cistern  near  Tappan  Hall  when  the  water  was  bitter  cold. 
Just  his  head  projected  above  the  water,  and  upon  attempting  to 
move,  he  found  the  water  deeper  in  all  directions.  He  j^elled  lustily, 
and  was  at  length  rescued,  after  a  dangerous  but  very  amusing  ex- 
perience, by  a  theologue.  He  declared  then  and  there  that  he  was 
done,  once  for  all,  with  the  cold  water  bath  system  on  &ny  scale. 

*  # 

There  are  some  "oddities"  connected  with  an  Oberlin  religious 
service  which  might  well  be  copied  in  all  churches.  The  first  of 
these  is  the  uniform  puntuality  of  those  who  attend.  This  marked 
characteristic  doubtless  results  indirectly  from  the  rule  which  re- 
quires the  students  to  be  prompt.  Then  everyone  is  on  his  feet  be- 
fore the  first  note  of  a  hymn  has  been  struck.  Again,  the  audience 
does  not  "bolt"  after  the  benediction,  but  by  far  the  major  portion 
resume  their  seats  and  chat  pleasantly  for  a  few  moments.  Revivals 
are  also  conducted  on  a  high  plane.  Only  two  or  three  services  a 
week  are  ever  permitted,  and  the  animus  of  these  is:  "Follow  on  to 
know  the  Lord."  Impassioned  appeal  and  exhortation  are  invari- 
ably wanting.  Some  evangelists  would  deem  this  a  fatal  limitation, 
but  somehow  in  Oberlin  it  has  the  effect  of  creating  a  permanent 
revival  spirit  The  inquiry  meetings  are  also  somewhat  disguised. 
Usually  they  are  held  in  the  main  church  auditorium,  after  a  short 


OBERLIN  ODDITIES.  55 

sermon,  and  consist  simply  of  quiet  social  intercourse  throughout 
the  house,  while  the  organist  plays  softly  on  the  great  organ,  per- 
haps. This  elevated,  undemonstrative  spirituality  doubtless  ac- 
counts for  the  permanency  of  Oberlin  conversions. 


It  may  not  be  counted  a  distinctively  Oberlin  spectacle,  but  it  is, 
nevertheless,  an  interesting  as  well  as  amusing  one  which  may  be 
witnessed  every  night  at  college  prayers.  Take  your  seat  in  the 
chapel,  near  the  door,  where  you  can  command  a  view  outside  and 
inside.  The  eyes  tire  of  watching  the  long  procession.  For  about 
eight  minutes  there  is  no  cessation.  The  ladies  enter  b}T  the  west 
entrance  and  the  gentlemen  by  the  east  entrance.  It  is  very  inter- 
esting to  watch  the  bright  faces.  Blondes  and  brunettes,  with  all 
the  intermediate  types  of  complexion  are  to  be  seen.  Occasionally 
a  Mongolian,  or  almost  as  rarely  an  Ethiopian  countenance  varies 
the  monoton}^.  They  come  from  nearly  every  country  on  the  globe, 
and  there  are  about  a  thousand  of  them.  Man}^  are  laughing  and 
chattering  like  magpies.  Some  are  conning  their  lessons,  even  as 
they  ascend  the  stairs,  and  they  look  preoccupied.  Some  you 
would  not  take  for  students  at  all.  Now  they  are  nearly  all  in. 
What  a  goodly  sight  it  is, — a  thousand  up-turned,  expectant,  intel- 
lectual faces.  Can  you  imagine  a  sight  more  impressive  or  inspir- 
ing? But  look  out  of  the  window!  yonder  come  two  3Touths,  flying 
across  the  Campus,  with  horizontal  coat-tails,  bent  upon  reaching 
the  chapel  before  the  last  tap  of  the  bell  sounds !  Does  anyone 
recognize  the  picture? 

*  * 

A  large  portion  of  the  general  public,  especially  at  other  colleges, 
imagine  that  among  the  peculiarities  of  Oberlin  is  a  false  austerity 
of  life.  A  gentleman  from  Yale  recently  expressed  his  surprise  to 
find  such  liberal  sentiment  here,  and  said :  "  Why,  we  had  an  idea 
at  Yale  that  it  was  against  the  rules  for  a  young  lady  to  wear  a 
feather  in  her  hat  at  Oberlin."  The  truth  is,  that  every  wholesome 
amusement  is  tolerated  at  Oberlin,  and  is  practiced  with  moderation. 
The  only  difference  is  that  Oberlin  students  don't  put  every  faculty 
of  soul  and  body  into  an  amusement,  as  some  shallow,  sickly  peo- 
ple do. 

*  * 

To  be  sure,  smoking  and  chewing  are  banished;  but  is  it  asking 

too  much  that  there  be  one  spot  on  this  green  earth  which  has  not 

been  invaded  by  the  weed?     Go  to  Jerusalem,  and  even  the  sacred 

citv  is  filled  with  the  fumes  of  tobacco.     On  street-cars  which  are 


36  OBEHLINIANA. 

labeled  "  Positively  no  Smoking,"  it  is  difficult  to  escape  the  perse- 
cutions of  the  deadly  cigarette.  In  Oberlin  a  reasonable  amount  of 
pure,  fresh  air  can  be  had. 

After  thorough  investigation  we  are  able,  Jiowever,  to  say  that 
there  is  positively  no  truth  in  the  story  that  a  pudding  which  had: 
been  placed  once  on  the  doorsteps  of  a  house  to  cool,  was  arrested 
for  smoking.  The  story  is  doubtless  a  wicked  canard,  invented  by 
the  enemies  of  the  school.  We  were  unable  to  discover,  moreover, 
any  remarkable  amount  of  first-class  wit  in  the  story. 

In  a  historical  address  delivered  in  Oberlin,  President  Fairchild 
once  said :  "  If  an  Oberlin  minister  can  be  found  who  smokes,  let 
him  be  canght  and  put  in  the  cabinet/'  Very  few  are  the  graduates 
whom  Oberlin  sends  out  who  use  tobacco  in  any  form. 


Among  the  list  of  peculiar  things  done  in  Oberlin  must  be  in- 
cluded the  cultivation  of  the  College  Campus  in  years  past,  under 
the  defunct  but  useful-in-its-generation  manual  labor  system.  What 
is  known  in  college  history  as  the  tree-planting  era,  dates  back  to 
1848.  Then  the  Campus  was  divided  up  among  the  four  college 
classes,  each  class  being  allotted  a  quarter  section.  The  Sophomore 
class  was  the  only  one  which  undertook  this  work  of  cultivation  as 
an  entire  class.  Each  member  was  assigned  his  portion  of  the 
Sophomore  quarter,  and  granted  freedom  in  the  choice  of  a  crop. 
Trees  were  planted  around  the  whole  section,  and  to  this  wise  pro- 
caution  we  are  indebted  for  the  luxuriant  groves  which  are  now  the 
glory  of  Tappan  Square, — perhaps  the  one  material  glory  of  the 
^college. 

The  Kalakagathian  Society,  (the  Good  and  the  Beautiful),  was 
formed.  A  committee  of  one  waited  upon  Mr.  Finney,  who  was 
found  in  the  top  of  a  tree  grafting  a  limb,  and  the  loan  of  his  horse 
was  secured.  (In  those  early  days  there  was  no  livery-stable,  and 
.students  who  wanted  to  go  sleigh-riding,  or  in  an}^  other  way  avail 
themselves  of  equine  strength,  were  accustomed  to  borrow  of  Mr. 
Finney.)  The  work  of  plowing  was  thus  soon  accomplished,  and  a 
few  weeks  later  corn,  beets,  potatoes,  turnips  and  melons  were  flour- 
ishing finely  on  the  square.  It  is  mentioned  as  an  interesting  fact 
that  never  was  a  melon  known  to  be  stolen  from  these  college  gar- 
dens !  We  must  admit  that  midnight  marauders  would  be  apt  to 
raid  such  melon  patches  nowada}^,  but  the  same  general  standard 
of  public  probity  is  still  maintained.  Burglaries  are  quite  uncom 
mon,  and  the  doors  of  many  houses  are  left  unlocked  all  night  to 
accommodate  students. 

Another  society  was  formed  of  similar  scope, — the  Arboricultural 


0BERL1N  ODDITIES.  57 

Society.  President  Fairchild  tells  of  working'  side  by  side  with 
Professor  Hudson,  while  student  and  learned  teacher  wielded  the 
hoe  in  unison,  and  paused  together,  perhaps,  to  wipe  the  perspira- 
tion from  their  classic  brows  by  means  of  the  plebeian  shirt-sleeve 
process.  Such  incidents  illustrate  the  laudable  communism  which 
characterized  this  community  in  those  days,  even  though  it  was 
made  up  of  diverse  elements. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A    CHAT    WITH    "GEORGE    HARRIS." 


l^j/^VUTSIDE  of  Oberlin  comparatively  few  people  are  aware  that 
V_/we  ha 


l^|  Wwe  have  living  in  quiet  retirement  here  in  Northern  Ohio,  the 

<•)]    H  original  of  a  character  in  fiction  that  is  known  even  where 

K  M\  the  name  of  Ohio  is  never  heard.     Such  a  character  resides 

^   «a»   in  Oberlin   in  the  person  of  Mr.  Lewis   Clark,  the  "George 

A  Harris"  of  Mrs.  Stowe's    "Uncle  Tom's   Cabin,"    who   has 

V  spoken  to  so  many  thousands  of  people  in  all  languages  as 

the  hero  of  that  story. 

Believing  that  a  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of  a  man  who  has  played 
so  conspicuous  a  part  in  the  world's  fiction  could  not  fail  to  be  of  in- 
terest, the  writer  called  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Clark  recently.  Mr. 
Clark  lives  in  a  pleasant  cottage  on  East  College  street,  about  half  a 
mile  from  the  Public  Square.  Notwithstanding  his  reputation  he  is 
still — as  is  so  often  true  in  such  cases — in  needy  circumstances.  In 
answer  to  the  knock,  Mr.  Clark  came  to  the  door  himself.  The  caller 
stated  his  errand,  and  inquired  pensively  if  he  was  a  nuisance. 

"Oh,  no,"  he  said  cordially,  throwing  wide  open  the  door  of  his 
little  sitting  room  and  pointing  to  a  chair:  "never  do  I  refuse  any- 
one such  an  accommodation  as  I  can  furnish  them.  The  agent  of  a 
New  York  Star  Company  has  not  been  gone  five  minutes;  he  was 
tiying  to  engage  me  to  act  the  part  of  George  Harris  in  his  troupe. 
But  you  are  perfectly  welcome.  They  call  me  'Old  Accommodation' 
and  I  always  want  to  deserve  the  name." 

There  is  a  halo  of  romance  cast  about  the  colored  race  by  Mrs. 
Stowe's  works,  which  appeals  to  every  generous  nature.  The  high- 
est type  of  this  worthy  sentiment  is  realized  in  the  noble  character 
of  the  original  "George  Harris."  Mr.  Clark  is  an  unselfish,  kindly, 
jovial  man  of  some  sixty  nine  years  of  age.  In  personal  appearance 
he  is  a  light  octoroon,  with  gray  hair  and  beard,  and  a  little  below 
the  medium  in  height.     He  is  a  man  with  tender  sympathies,  and 


58  OBERLIN  I  ANA. 

generous  almost  to  a  fault.  Many  a  fellow-slave  in  bondage  has 
blessed  him  for  his  timely  assistance.  He  came  to  Oberlin  about  ten 
years  ago,  with  the  purpose  of  educating  his  children  in  the  Union 
schools,  none  of  them  having  ever  been  inside  a  school  house  prior 
to  that  time.  His  eldest  daughter,  a  }Toung  lady  of  twenty-three 
years,  has  been  teaching  with  marked  success  in  Washington,  Ind. 
His  eldest  son,  a  youth  of  twenty,  a  few  years  ago  came  out  second 
best  in  a  cadet  examination  at  Elyria,  and  has  since  received  from 
Annapolis  several  offers  of  sub-positions;  these,  however,  he  declined, 
since  five  years  of  schooling  did  not  satisfy  him. 

"What  is  your  occupation  Mr.  Clark?"  was  inquired. 

"Pruning,  sir,  chiefly,  but  I  do  any  other  work  to  support  my 
family,  and  even  then  I  can't  pay  the  rent  on  my  house." 

"And  yet  you're  happy?" 

"Yes,  sir!  I'm  happy  as  the  day  is  long;  there  isn't  a  happier 
man  in  Oberlin.     I'm  full  of  gladness  all  the  time." 

"Ah,  here  they  come,"  he  added  fondly,  as  five  or  six  bo}-s  came 
trooping  into  the  room.  And  well  he  might  speak  proudly;  a  hand- 
somer, more  intelligent  group  of  boys  few  fathers  possess.  Just  re- 
tiring enough,  with  bright  eyes,  and  almost  white  complexions,  they 
were  truly  jewels  of  which  he  might  boast.  He  has  nine  children 
in  all.  * 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ky.,  about  nine  miles 
from  Berea  College,  in  the  month  of  March,  1814  or  1815.  He  was 
then  the  slave  of  his  grandfather,  Samuel  Campbell.  His  father  was 
Daniel  Clark,  a  Scotch  weaver  and  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  His 
mother  was  a  mulatto  slave,  Letitia  Campbell,  the  daughter  of  her 
own  master.  He  was  himself  sold  at  the  death  of  Legree  (Tom 
Kennedy)  to  Legree' s  son,  also  bearing  the  name  of  Tom  Kennedy, 
for  $1,250.  The  latter  was  a  kind  master,  very  much  like  St.  Clair, 
though  somewhat  addicted  to  drink.  Mr.  Clark  saw  Uncle  Tom 
whipped  near  to  death  by  the  elder  Kennedy,  and  saw  eight  others 
whipped  just  as  hard,  but  did  not  die,  since  they  were  not  beaten 
over  the  head  with  a  club.  The  original  Uncle  Tom  was  a  colored 
man  by  the  name  of  Sam  Pete.  He  has  just  died  in  Dresden,  Dawn 
township,  Canada,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-four  }Tears.  During 
that  part  of  his  life  which  has  been  spent  in  freedom,  he  has  gone 
by  the  name  of  Rev.  Josiah  Henson.  He  was  so  terribly  beaten  that 
he  could  not  to  the  day  of  his  death  lift  his  hands  to  his  head  to 
wash  his  face  or  dress  himself.  He  could  use  his  hands  and  arms 
upon  any  object  that  was  in  front  of  him,  could  shave  his  master, 
and  do  a  great  deal  of  hard  work,  but  he  could  never  feel  "  ob  de 
wool  (hit  grew  on  de  top  ob  his  head."  He  was  called  Uncle  Si  in 
real  life  by  his  parishoners  and  friends. 


A  CHAT  WITH  "GEORGE  HARRIS."  59 

The  plantation  of  Amos  Riley,  to  whom  Uncle  Tom  or  "Si"  be- 
longed, and  that  of  Mr.  St.  Clair  were  separated  by  Blackford's 
Creek,  a  small  stream  in  Davis  eount}%  Kentucky.  Riley's  planta- 
tion was  a  small  one,  and  Si  was  consequently  hired  out  to  neigh- 
boring planters.  It  was  his  good  luck  to  work  for  St.  Clair  most  of 
the  time,  who  was  just  such  a  man  and  died  just  such  a  death  .as 
the  book  represents. 

It  is  difficult  to  straighten  out  the  tangles  which  have  been  made 
in  the  attempt  to  point  out  the  originals  of  the  various  characters 
in  Mrs.  Stowe's  famous  novel.  Doubtless  the  truth  is  that  each  of 
these  characters  was  made  up  of  several  real-life  personages.  For 
instance,  it  is  said  that  the  qualities  belonging  to  Simon  Legree  had 
their  counterpart  in  the  character  of  Bryce  Lytton,  overseer  of  Isaac 
Riley's  plantation  in  Maryland.  So  also  it  is  said  that  Colwell 
Campbell,  who  died  in  Madison  count}T,  Ky.,  a  few  years  ago,  fur- 
nished the  novelist  with  many  of  the  characteristics  for  St.  Clair. 
It  is  believed,  however,  that  with  Mr.  Clark's  assistance  the  main 
facts  were  arrived  at. 

"Was  there  really  an  Eva  St.  Clair?1'  was  asked. 

"Oh,  yes!  But  her  name  wasn't  Eva — it  was  Susan — Susan  St. 
Clair,  and  she  used  to  read  for  Old  Si,  and  then  he  would  sing  for 
her.     She  was  an  innocent,  affectionate,  God-fearing  child." 

"And  did  she  fall  into  the  water,  and  did  he  save  her  from  drown- 
ing?" 

"Yes,  he  and  another  slave  were  rowing  her  across  Blackford's 
Creek  in  a  small  canoe  to  her  father,  who  stood  on  the  other  shore. 
The  canoe  rocked,  she  became  nervous,  and  fell  into  the  water.  He 
jumped  in  after  her  and  saved  her." 

Yet  even  the  full  character  of  Eva  was  drawn  from  'two  or  three 
little  Southern  girls ;  one  of  these  is  now  dead,  and  with  another  Mr. 
Clark  dined  eight  years  ago,  at  her  home  in  Stanford,  Kentucky. 

"Aunt  Chloe,"  the  faithful  wife  of  "  Uncle  Tom,"  was  Charlotte, 
the  patient  wife  of  Si.  But  instead  of  crying  as  she  does  in  the 
play  because  Tom  wouldn't  run  away,  she  wept  when  he  announced 
his  intention  to  do  so.  "  George  Shelby,"  Uncle  Tom's  great  friend, 
was  in  reality  Amos  Riley,  Jr.,  and  he  it  was  that  took  Si  to  New 
Orleans  to  sell  him.  While  there  he  was  stricken  with  fever,  taken 
back  to  Old  Kentuck  and  nursed  back  to  life  by  Mr.  Henson,  who 
shortly  after  made  up  his  mind  that  the  Lord  helps  them  who  help 
shemselves,  took  his  wife  and  four  children,  and  made  his  successful 
break  for  the  freedom  he  had  once  paid  .$500  for,  and  which  he  had 
really  paid  for  a  thousand  times  by  his  faithfulness  to  his  different 
masters. 


60  OBERLINIANA. 

He  picked  up  a  few  provisions,  and  put  two  little  pickaninies  in 
a  bag  and  slung-  them  over  his  shoulder.  His  wife  led  the  other  two 
little  ones,  a  fellow  rowed  them  across  the  river,  and  they  trudged 
through  the  swamp  and  on  to  liberty. 

Mr.  Clark  displayed  a  linen  wheel  at  which  he  worked  ten  years, 
acquiring  the  reputation  of  being  the  best  laborer  in  the  county. 
He  also  operated  the  machine  invented  by  him,  as  described  in  Mrs. 
Stowe's  work.  He  further  exhibited  a  sleeve,  of  which  the  mater- 
ial was  corded  by  his  sister,  spun  by  his  mother,  and  woven  by 
his  father,  and  which  was  worn  by  his  sister  on  the  auction  block. 
Afterward  she  sent  this  to  him  to  tell  him  where  she  was,  as  it  was 
impossible  to  send  a  letter.  This  incident  and  several  others  re- 
lated (such  as  Eliza's  throwing  her  scarf  in  the  river  to  lead  her 
pursuers  to  believe  she  had  perished),  do  not  appear  in  "Uncle 
Tom's  Cabin." 

When  Mrs.  Stowe  got  her  information  from  Mr.  Clark,  she  did 
not  tell  him  her  purpose,  and,  indeed,  afterward  told  him  that  she 
had  no  purpose  at  the  time.  Mr.  Clark  started  for  the  North  in  his 
twenty-sixth  year,  taking  with  him  a  body-slave,  Isaac.  The  timid- 
ity of  the  latter,  however,  caused  both  to  return,  and  Clark  two 
weeks  later  consummated  his  escape  alone,  promising  to  return  for 
Isaac  in  a  year.  This  he  afterward  did,  but  Isaac  was  dead.  The 
meeting  at  the  tavern  is  fairly  portrayed  by  Mrs.  Stowe.  At  Cin- 
cinnati he  disposed  of  his  horse,  and  went  to  Portsmouth,  via  the 
steamer  Sylph.  Here  he  took  a  canal  boat  for  Cleveland,  arriving 
at  the  latter  place  in  1841.  He  had  been  told  that  Port  Stanley  was 
across  a  big  river  from  Cleveland,  and,  wandering  up  and  down  the 
beach  of  the  lake  for  several  miles,  he  thought  it  must  be  a  mis- 
take, as  he  couldn't  see  the  port  anywhere.  Only  driftwood  then 
lay  where  now  the  Union  Depot  and  Lake  View  Park  extend.  He 
finally  secured  passage  in  a  sail  vessel,  and  arrived  at  the  Canadian 
port  in  safety. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


POLITICAL    REMINISCENCES 


j/^ABERLIN  has  always  been  active  in  the  extreme  in  political 
\§|  v^matters.     It  is  with   pride   that  most  alumni  will  view  this 

1  Mb  record  °^  activity,  for  nothing  is  more  to  be  deprecated  than 

g  JJk  a  cloistered,  exclusive  culture. 

4J  |P  It  must  be  regarded  as  more  than  a  coincidence  that  the 
H|  school  and  town  have  been  so  overwhelmingly  Republican  in 
W  sentiment  from  the  first.  There  has  been  no  selfish,  personal 
interest  in  politics,  but  a  spontaneous  enthusiasm  has  always  at- 
tended the  campaigns.  How  many  alumni  will  remember  with 
pleasure  the  innocent  ardor  of  those  days  when  their  class  marched 
to  the  polls  with  drums  beating  and  flags  flying.  And  how  exas- 
perated it  used  to  make  the  few  lonely  Democrats  who  had  been 
soured  by  long  waiting  for  success,  to  seethe  great  army  of  thought- 
ful young  men  deposit  Republican  ballots  unanimously,  but  with 
the  most  orderly  deportment! 

Then  there  are  the  Mock  National  Conventions  of  modern  years. 
Who  will  forget  the  appearance  of  the  College  Chapel  on  such  oc- 
casions, when  it  is  dotted  with  the  banners  and  transparencies  of 
the  various  States,  and  crowded  with  a  thousand  embryonic  states- 
men? These  college  Blaines,  and  Grants  and  Conklings  are  indeed 
worthy  models  for  the  real  statesmen  to  study. 

*  # 

Never  in  the  his£oiy  of  politics  was  the  result  of  an  election  at- 
tended by  such  a  tremendous  demonstration  in  Oberlin,  and  pro- 
bably never  in  the  whole  Eighteenth  District,  as  attended  the  news 
of  Garfield's  election.  Treasurer  J.  B.  T.  Marsh  received  a  telegram 
early  in  the  morning  with  the  full  particulars  of  the  election  in  the 
East,  and  immediately  afterward  the  morning  train  arrived  with  the 
Cleveland  papers  and  the  business  men* of  Oberlin  returning,  from 
the  city. 

The  glorious  news  spread  like  wild-fire;  soon  the  college  bell 
pealed  forth  joyfully,  and  the  fire  bells  and  school  bells  and  factory 
whistles  joined  in  tumultuously.  The  college  work  was  totally  sus- 
pended, the   public  schools  were  dismissed,  and  in  a  moment  4,000 


62  OBERLIXIANA. 

people  were  on  the  streets.  Numerous  couriers  galloped  through 
the  streets  at  full  speed  with  horns  blowing.  Everybody  seized  a 
morning  paper  and  a  fog-horn,  and  blew  as  he  read  the  glad  tidings. 
Innumerable  bands  were  improvised;  the  din  was  dreadful.  Guns 
were  fired.  A  student  performed  the  perilous  feat  of  climbing  to 
the  summit  of  the  Chapel  dome,  and  fastening  there  a  large  flag. 

The  students  were  wild  with  excitement,  and  began  in  their  zeal 
to  form  processions.  A  dozen  such  organizations  were  formed  by  the 
respective  classes,  and  paraded  the  streets  with  banners,  flags, 
and  anything  they  could  find.  The  hardware  stores  furnished  gratis 
all  the  tin  horns  and  dust  pans  and  bells  of  every  description, 
which  they  had  on  hand.  Banners  of  every  imaginable  device  were 
improvised,  and  borne  in  the  procession,  some  of  which  were  irre- 
sistabry  comical.  Every  spare  wagon  in  town  was  fitted  up  and 
crowded  with  passengers  carrying  symbols  of  victory.  Hats  were 
raised  on  poles,  masks  donned;  horse-fiddles  scraped;  tin  pans 
rattled;  pumpkins  carried;  shells  and  lamp  chimneys  made  into 
bugles;  caps  worn  inside  out;  barrels  borne  aloft;  lanterns  lighted; 
pesens  of  victory  sung. 

Some  students  built  a  bonfire  and  burned  up  their  hats  in  excess 
of  joy.  An  effigy  of  Hancock  was  laid  out  in  a  coffin  and  tenderly 
carried  in  the  procession.  In  mockery  some  individuals  dressed  in 
crape  and  received  hearty  applause.  The  excitement  became  so  in- 
tense that  the  Theologues  forsook  the  retirement  of  Council  Hall 
and  joined  the  procession,  each  bearing  aloft  a  broom.  Even  Pro- 
fessors were  discovered  stealing  around  in  the  suburbs  of  the  crowd 
with  flags. 

The  ladies  mounted  the  observatory  on  the  roof  of  Ladies1  Hall 
and  planted  there  the  stars  and  stripes.  At  length  the  enthusiasm 
became  so  universal  that  even  they  were  obliged  to  come  down  and 
join  the  parade.  Oh  it  was  a  goodly  sight,— 350  patriotic,  refined 
lady  students  carrying  flags  and  blowing  bugles  for  Garfield.  Every 
one  forgot  the  solid  walls  of  propriety  that  so  often  forbid  innocent 
enthusiasm.  Jeff.  Davis  escaping  in  women's  clothes  was  carica- 
tured. Roosters  were  slain  and  elevated  on  poles.  The  Ku-Klux 
were  represented. 

*  * 

In  the  afternoon  a  large  number  of  the  students  and  Faculty  went 
to  Mentor  by  special  train.  The  scheme  was  not  conceived  until  it 
was  thought  almost  too  late  for  its  success.  A  little  before  noon  a 
telegram  was s ant  to  the  railrod  authorities  asking  if  a  special 
train  for  the  exclusive  use  of  the  Faculty  and  students  of  Oberlin 
College  could  Leave  Oberlin  for   Mentor  at  1:30  p.m.     A  favorable 


POLITICAL  REMINISCENCES.  63 

answer  was  soon  returned,  and  the  project  was  advertised  as  much 
as  possible  in  the  remaining  hour  and  a  half.  A  telegram  was  sent 
to  General  Garfield  by  President  James  H.  Fairchild,  saying  that 
such  an  invasion  of  "Lawnfield"  was  designed. 

At  1 :40  the  train  of  nine  crowded  cars  pulled  out  from  the  Oberlin 
depot.  Notwithstanding  the  lateness  with  which  the  enterprise  was 
projected  a  very  large  excursion  took  place.  By  count  there  were  730 
aboard,  which  would  include  nearly  all  the  students. 

Among  this  number  were  President  James  H.  Fairchild,  Profes- 
sor J.  M.  Ellis  and  wife,  Professor  Judson  Smith  and  wife,  Profes- 
sor George  H.  White,  Professor  A.  A.  Wright,  Professor  James  K. 
Newton,  Professor  G.  W.  Shurtleff,  Treasurer  J.  B.  T.  Marsh,  Pro- 
fessor Rice  and  Professor  Chamberlain  of  the  conservatory,  Rev. 
William  Kincaid,  Mrs.  A.  A.  F.  Johnston  (lady  principal),  Mrs. 
Hatch  of  the  Ladies'  Board,  and  the  following  instructors  in  var- 
ious departments :  Miss  Wright,  Miss  Patterson,  Miss  L.  C.  Wat- 
tles, Mrs.  Meade,  Tutor  King,  Tutor  Hall,  Tutor  Peck,  Tutor  Cady, 
and  Tutor  Martin.  A  large  proportion,  probably  one-third  of  the 
excursionists,  were  lady  students,.  The  run  to  Mentor  was  made  with 
stops  only  at  Elyria  and  Cleveland.  The  time  was  spent  in  singing- 
college  and  campaign  songs  and  in  various  diversions  peculiar  to 
college  students.  Trumpets  were  very  numerous  and  demonstra- 
tive. The  various  classes  were  distinguished  by  badges.  The 
Sophomores  wore  frontpieces  on  their  ( hats  labeled  "329."  Flags 
and  banners  were  countless.  Professor  Shurtleff1  was  master  of  cer- 
emonies, and  issued  the  orders  of  procedure  while  the  run  from 
Cleveland  to  Mentor  was  being  made.  On  arriving  at  the  Garfield 
Lane  the  train  paused,  and  a  procession  four  abreast  was  formed  as 
follows:  Band;  Faculty  and  instructors;  theological  students,  un- 
der Professor  Chamberlain;  Seniors  and  Fourth  Years,  under  Mr. 
E.  D.  Bostwiek;  Juniors  and  Third  Years,  under  Mr.  J.  S.  Morse; 
Sophomores  and  Second  Years,  under  Mr.  J.  C.  Moore;  Freshmen 
and  First  Years,  under  Mr.  Slater;  Conservatory  students,  under 
Professor  Rice;  Senior  and  Middle  Preps.,  under  Mr.  Wilson;  all 
other  students,  under  Mr.  Bates;  citizens.  The  crowd  marched  up 
the  lane  and  gathered  about  the  Garfield  cottage.  President  James 
H.  Fairchild  introduced  the  students  as  follows : 

PRESIDENT  FAIRCHILD' S  SPEECH. 

General  Garfield  :  I  have  the  honor  and  the  pleasure  of  introducing 
to  you  this  delegation  from  the  Faculty  and  students  of  Oberlin  College, 
reinforced  by  a  representation  from  the  citizens  of  Oberlin.  We  owe  you, 
doubtless,  first  an  apology  for  intruding  to-day  upon  your  quiet  —  quiet 
which  must  be  so  necessary  to  yourself  and  to  your  household.     And  it  is 


61  OBERLINIANA, 

.  entirely  unexpected  to  ourselves.  We  began  the  work  of  the  clay  in  our 
usual  form,  but  as  the  joyful  news  came  in  upon  us  this  morning,  we  found 
ourselves  unable  to  hold  the  even  tenor  of  our  way ;  we  were  lifted  so  out 
of  the  plane  of  ordinary  experience  and  life,  that  after  such  demonstra- 
tions as  we  could  make  at  home,  we  found  it  necessary  to  engage  an  ex- 
press train,  and  here  we  are. 

We  bring  you  our  congratulations,  our  cordial  greetings — -not  so  much 
congratulations  to  j^ourself  that  this  highest  honor  has  come  upon  you,  as 
congratulations  to  ourselves  and  to  the  land  that  this  honor  and  these  respon- 
sibilities have  fallen  upon  one  so  worthy  and  so  able  to  sustain  them. 

We  anticipate,  it  is  our  prayer,  our  expectation,  that  this  auspicious  day 
but  properly  represents  the  prosperity  and  the  honor  which  shall  attend 
the  coming  Administration. 

I  am  authorized  to  extend  to  you,  in  behalf  of  these  seven  hundred  loyal 
citizens,  the  right-hand,  as  representing  their  cordial  greetings  upon  this 
occasion. 

At  the  close  of  President  Fairchild's  speech  General  Garfield 
spoke  as  follows: 

GENERAL    GARFIELD'S    RESPONSE. 

Mr.  President,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  This  spontaneous  visit  is  so 
much  more  agreeable  than  a  prepared  one.  It  comes  more  directly  from 
the  heart  of  the  people  who  participate  in  it,  and  I  receive  it  as  a  greater 
compliment  for  that  reason.  I  do  not  wish  to  be  unduly  impressible  or 
superstitious;  but,  though  we  have  outlived  the  days  of  the  augurs,  I 
think  we  have  a  right  to  think  of  some  events  as  omens,  and  I  greet  this  as 
a  happy  and  auspicious  omen  that  the  first  general  greeting  since  the  event 
of  yesterday  is  tendered  to  me  by  a  venerable  institution  of  learning. 

The  thought  has  been  abroad* in  the  world  a  good  deal,  and  with  reason, 
that  there  is  a  divorce  between  scholarship  and  politics.  Oberlin,  1  believe, 
has  never  advocated  that  divorce.  But  there  has  been  a  sort  of  cloistered 
scholarship  in  the  United  States  that  has  stood  aloof  from  active  participa- 
tion in  public  affairs.  I  am  glad  to  be  greeted  here  to-day  by  the  active, 
live  scholarship  of  Ohio,  and  I  know  of  no  place  where  scholarship  has 
touched  upon  the  nerve  center  of  public  life  so  effectually  as  at  Oberlin. 
For  this  reason  I  am  specially  grateful  for  this  greeting  from  the  Faculty 
and  students  of  Oberlin  College  and  its  venerable  and  venerated  President. 

I  thank  you,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  for  this  visit.  Whatever  the  signifi- 
cance of  yesterday's  event  may  be,  it  will  be  all  the  more  significant  for 
being  immediately  indorsed  by  the  scholarship  of  the  State.  I  thank  you, 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  thank  your  President  for  coming  with  you.  You 
are  cordially  welcome.     [Applause.] 

The  College  Glee  Club,  under  the  leadership  of  Professor  Cham- 
berlain, then  rendered  one  of  their  best  selections,  entitled  "All 
honor  to  the  soldier  give."  After  this  the  entire  body  sang  "  My 
country  'tis  of  thee,"  and  passed  into  the  house  at  General  Gar- 
field's invitation,  and  shook  hands  with  the  family.  Half  an  hour 
more  was  spent  in  exploring  the  premises. 

After  everything  had  been  duly  inspected  and  found  to  meet  gen- 
eral approbation,  the  crowd  filed  down  the  lane  and  boarded  the 
train  at  5:15.     The  party  arrived  in  Oberlin  at  8  P.  M. 


POLITICAL  REMINISCENCES.  G5 

Many  persons  will  remember  a  peculiar  incident  attending  the 
Hayes  presidential  campaign.  On  election  day  the  dining  room  of 
the  Ladies'  Hall  was  patriotically  decorated  according  to  custom. 
Flags,  festoons  of  evergreens,  Chinese  lanterns,  lithographs,  and 
paintings  of  the  Republican  candidate  were  the  result  of  the  emula- 
tion between  tables.  Over  one  table  the  issue  of  the  campaign  was 
set  forth  by  means  of  a  set  of  beam-scales  attached  to  the  chande- 
lier above,  with  a  large  gilded  medal  representing  a  gold  dollar  on 
one  side  and  a  rag  babj^  on  the  other.  Of  course  the  dollar  was 
made  to  outweigh  the  doll. 

On  the  following  day  it  was  popularly  supposed  that  Tilden  had 
won.  The  decorations  were  torn  down  and  festoons  of  crape  substi- 
tuted instead,  the  pictures  of  Hayes  turned  to  the  wall,  and  the  rag 
baby  made  to  outweigh  the  gold  dollar.  About  one  hundred  and 
fift3r  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  mournfully  partaking  of  the  evening 
meal,  when  a  student  carelessly  moved  a  festoon  so  that  it  ignited 
in  a  gas  jet.  The  material  flashed  up  quickly,  and  the  blaze  circled 
upward  until  it  reached  one  of  the  arms  of  the  pair  of  scales  in 
question,  slowly  burned  in  two  the  cord  by  which  the  doll  was  sus- 
pended, and  then  harmlessly  went  out. 

As  the  rag  baby  dropped  thumpety-thump  upon  the  table  below, 
the  scales  again  reversed,  the  gold  dollar  went  triumphantly  down, 
and  the  empty  arm  went  ignoininiously  up!  In  the  meantime  the 
usual  Babel  of  conversation  had  been  hushed,  and  everybody  was 
watching  the  occurrence  with  breathless  interest. 

"An  omen,"  spoke  up  some  one, 

And  by  a  strange  coincidence,  just  at  that  moment  in  came  a 
courier  and  announced: 

"A  despatch  just  received  saj^s  that  New  York  is  conceded  to  be 
Republican,  and  Hayes  is  elected!" 

Of  course  the  announcement  was  a  litte  premature,  but  it  created 
a  tempest  of  applause  that  did  not  subside  for  a  long  time. 


Oberlin  usually  makes  a  great  deal  of  Decoration  Day.  The 
shapely  shaft  on  Second  Church  Square  is  a  silent  but  eloquent 
testimonial  to  the  honor  in  which  she  holds  her  fallen  heroes  of  the 
Rebellion.  Of  late  years,  however,  a  good  many  things  have  seemed 
to  conspire  to  distract  general  attention  from  the  anniversary,  and 
in  1882  scarceby  anything  was  done  in  a  public  way.  The  people 
were  promptly  horrified,  when  they  discovered  that  the  day  had  ac- 
tually  come,  and  no  preparations  for  its  observance  were  on  foot. 
The  sense  of  general  humiliation  was  expressed  b}T  many  of  the  mer- 
chants in  the  form  of  caustic  mottoes  which  the}T  displayed   in  the 


m  OBERLINIANA. 

windows  of  their  closed  shops.  Portraits  of  slain  military  leaders 
were  festooned  with  crape,  and  labeled:  "Thus  soon  are  we  for- 
gotten.1' At  another  place  was  the  legend:  "Not  a  drum  was  heard, 
not  a  funeral  note."  In  a  third  window  the  passer-by  read:  "Not  a 
sigh,  not  a  tear,  not  a  word  for  the  soldier  dead."  It  is  unnecessary 
to  say  that  Oberlin  outdid  herself  in  1883. 

When  Richmond  was  taken  the  Oberlin  people  rejoiced  in  the 
following  manner,  related  by  the  Lorain  County  News : 

"When  there  was  no  longer  room  for  doubt,  the  volcanoes  of  jubi- 
lation broke  forth,  and  such  a  hearty,  happy  welling  up  of  joy  and 
gladness  it  is  rarely  our  fortune  to  witness.  The  old  six-pounder 
was  brought  out  on  Tappan  Square,  and  belched  forth,  a  large  bonfire 
blazed  up,  rockets  shot  towards  the  heavens,  a  balloon  ascension 
was  greeted  by  a  score  of  voices  singing  "  John  Brown's  Body," 
drums  beat,  and   speeches  by  citizens   and  students  occupied  the 

time  until  a  late  hour." 

* 

■X-  * 

July  19th,  1865,  the  "Big  Church  was  filled  to  listen  to  addresses 
and  take  action  concerning  the  giving  the  ballot  to  the  negro.  After 
several  able  addresses  Father  Keep  offered  the  following  resolution, 
which  was  unanimously  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  we  demand  equal  suffrage,  not  simply  because,  like 
the  negro's  musket  it  is  now  needed  to  save  the  freshly  imperilled 
nation,  but  because  Justice,  whose  eyes  are  bandaged  so  that  she 
may  never  know  the  difference  between  the  white  man  and  the  black, 
holds  an  even  scale  in  her  hand,  wherewith  she  weighs  the  right  of 
one  citizen  by  the  exact  weight  of  every  other." 

*  * 

Captain  Grabill  eulogized  Prof.  Shurtleff  in~the  following  words: 
"Every  one  remembers  the  meetings  for  prayer  that  God's  blessing 
might  rest  upon  the  student  soldiers.  At  one  of  these,  before  Co. 
C  went  to  Camp  Taylor,  the  then  Capt.  Shurtleff  gave  utterance  to 
these  words:  '  I  have  enlisted  as  a  duty  to  God  and  my  country;  I 
shall  fight  it  through.1  He  evinced  this  spirit  throughout  the  war, 
and  long  months  of  prison  life  did  not  dampen  his  enthusiasm.  He 
strove  for  the  elevation  of  the  colored  race,  and  while  the  arming  of 
the  colored  men  was  spoken  of  with  contempt,  and  even  the  friends 
of  the  measure  looked  upon  it  as  an  experiment,  Colonel  Shurtleff 
risked  reputation  and  character  in  the  success  of  the  new  movement. 
The  State  Executive  was  timid  and  cautious,  but  the  regiment  was 
organized.  It  was  the  reward  of  his  labor,  and  in  many  a  bloody 
conflict  did  it  bear  witness  to  its  courage  and  loyalty." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

PRESIDENT    FINNEY. 

s€  T  T  is  not  our  purpose  to  present  in  this  chapter  any  account  of 

^  i.  Mr.  Finney's  life.     His  autobiography  is  a  book  which  every 

d^  Jt  Oberlin  student  should  possess,  as  presenting  in  the  most  for- 

£/#?cible  way  the  history  of  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  of  the 

4]^  century.     We   have  attempted   here  merely  to  gather   a  few 

Aanecdotes  illustrating  various   phases  of  Mr.  Finne3r1s  char- 

Vacter  and  labors,  which  may  serve  as  a  supplement  or  appendix 

to   other  publications,  and  which  we   have  reason  to  believe  are 

authentic. 

A  great  many  of  the  stories  about  President  Finney  have  no 
foundation  whatever  in  fact.  The  newspapers  during  his  lifetime 
delighted  to  retail  extravagant  jokes  which  were  eagerly  caught  up 
and  passed  as  current.  While  it  is  true  that  the  man  possessed 
man}-  peculiarities  of  word  and  manner,  still  as  his,  with  their  orig- 
inal surroundings  they  seemed  perfectly  natural  to  those  who 
heard  or  witnessed  them.  There  was  no  buffoonery  about  the  man. 
He  might  say  or  do  things  that  would  not  have  been  tolerated  in  others, 
but  when  accompanied  by  his  forceful  manner  and  piercing  eye,  they 
attracted  little  notice.  Says  one  of  the  old  alumni:  "I  sat  under 
President  Finney's  preaching  for  seven  years,  and  during  that  time 
never  heard  anything  from  him  but  what  seemed  to  be  natural.  His 
sermons  were  serious,  solemn  and  ever  new.  His  logical  power 
was  something  wonderful."  In  the  inquiry  room  he  forgot  every- 
thing but  the  person  before  him,  and  his  God.  He  understood 
hearts  so  well  that  he  would  sometimes  say  things  which  would  be 
astounding  to  listeners,  but  yet  which  would  go  straight  to  the  mark 
and  accomplish  their  aim.  He  was  a  man  who,  sometimes  arbitrary, 
and  having  his  oddities,  yet  lived  very  near  to  Gk>i;  no  sketch  of 
Oberlin,  however  fragmentary,  could  be  presented  without  giving  a 
liberal  recognition  to  the  indispensible  part  which  President  Finney 
took  in  the  building  up  of  the  town  and  college.  He  came  with  his 
personal  presence  and  accumulated  power,  and  impressed  his  thought 
and  life  upon  the  community  and  the  school  as  few  men  could  have 
done. 


-: 


63  0BERL1NIANA. 

These  few   stories  following,  sifted  from  out  of  very   many,   ar 
offered  without  further  comment. 


Mr.  Finney  thus   described  his  first  coming  to  Oberlin  after  tin 
arrangements  were  made  with  Mr.  Tappan: 

"I  came  on  to  the  ground  in  the  Spring  of  1835.  The  first  living 
thing  that  I  saw,  in  wending  my  way  from  the  State  road,  througl 
an  unbroken  forest,  with  no  path,  was  a  hedge-hog.  He  was  a  sym 
bol  of  the  state  of  feeling  that  for  some  years  prevailed  in  th 
country  toward  Oberlin.  As  he  took  a  defiant  attitude  and  erectec 
his  quills  in  every  direction,  I  seized  a  club  and  killed  him.  I  hav 
had  to  fight  a  good  many  hedge-hogs  since,  but  never  killed  anybody 
On  arriving  I  found  that  the  first  living  thing  that  was  seen,  whe] 
Brothers  Shipherd  and  Stewart  arrived  on  the  ground,  was  an  old 
bear,  which  they  treed,  on  the  spot  where  the  Park  House  now  stands 
There  was  no  clearing  here  when  I  came,  except  what  is  now  th 
Public  Square.  All  around  was  an  immense  and  unbroken  forest 
and  the  deer  were  so  plenty,  that  they  seemed  to  look  out  from  th 
woods  upon  us,  to  see  what  we  were  about.  To  escape  from  th 
pressure  that  was  upon  my  mind,  I  would  frequently  take  my  rifl 
and  go  into  the  woo'ds,  and  would  seldom  go  more  than  forty  rod 
from  the  clearing,  without  seeing  a  deer.  Brother  George  Clark 
who  boarded  at  Mr.  Shipherd' s,  where  Mr.  Hulburd  now  lives,  sho 
a  deer  almost  from  the  door  ofthe  house,  that  came  out  of  the  wood, 
to  see  what  we  were  about  in  Oberlin.  Where  this  building  nov 
stands,  was  then  a  forest.  The  country  around  us  bristled  witl 
opposition.  A  year  or  two  after  I  came  here,  I  went  out  on  to  thu 
ridge,  toward  Elyria,  to  get  some  slips  of  currant  bushes.  The  man 
was  very  cross  when  he  found  I  was  from  Oberlin,  and  snapped  out 
'  You' re  going  to  compel  the  young  men  to  marry  nigger  wenchet 
over  there,  and  you're  going  to  try  to  unite  church  and  State.'  Fo: 
years  the  opposition  was  so  great  that  they  threatened  to  tear  dowr 
our  buildings  and  force  us  to  abandon  the  enterprise." 

Beyond  this,  although  coming  from  the  great  cit}^,  with  all  itit 
refinements,  which  he  exquisitely  appreciated,  to  the  small  quarters 
the  hard  fare,  the  rains  and  mud  of  early  Oberlin,  he  never  alludec 
to  the  contrast,  or  spoke  of  the  sacrifice  he  had  made.  He  referred 
with  pain,  to  the  jealousies  he  had  witnessed  among  ministers,  anc 
solemnly  charged  the  students  never  to  indulge  this  spirit.  One 
he  exclaimed:  "Why,  if  any  brother  can  preach  better  than  yo 
can,  you  should  be  willing  to  have  him  stand  on  your  shoulders  an 
proclaim  the  Saviour's  love  to  d}Ting  sinners!" 


PRESIDENT  FINNEY.  69 

Rev.  George  Chirk  tells  his  first  experience  in  the  following-  words : 
At  hough  the  incident  does  not  concern  President  Finney,  we  insert 
;  here  as  a  companion  picture  to  the  above. 

On  our  way  here  from  Lane  Seminary  we  lectured  on  Slavery  as 
e  had  opportunity,  and  at  Putnam,  Muskingum  county,  helped  or- 
anize  The  Ohio  State  Anti- Slavery  Society.  From  Elyria  to  Oberlin 
e  came  on  our  natural  conveyance,  walking  often  through  mud  and 
us  lies,  hopping  from  root  to  root,  climbing  over  old  dead  logs,  and 
le  last  of  the  way  following  a  cart-path  or  Indian  trail. 

"Home  at  last,  and  such,  indeed,  it  was.  We  stopped  at  the 
ouse  of  dear  Brother  Shipherd,  now  the  back  part  of  Brother  Hul- 
urd's,  next  west  of  Council  Hall.  He  was  absent,  but  his  faithful 
ife  and  boarders  did  the  best  they  could  for  us.  They  put  me  to 
ed  on  the  north  half  of  a  twelve  foot  board;  an  extra  tall  boarder, 
ow  Rev.  Dr.  Wallace,  of  Manchester,  New  Hampshire,  occupying 
le  south  half  and  more.     We  sorted  out  our  feet  in  the  morning-. 

'•Brother  Finney  has  alluded  to  the  hedge-hogs  and  deer,  the  bears 
ad  wolves,  and  other  wild  game  that  roamed  the  forest  then,  and 
ften  seemed  curious  to  know  what  was  going  on  in  this  settlement, 
ight  in  the  midst  of  their  ancient  lairs.  Still  meat  was  scarce, 
nd  most  were  too  busy  to  hunt,  and  often  it  was  impossible  to  se- 
ure  it  otherwise.  In  those  days  this  was  a  great  place  for  prayer. 
Ve  had  to  live  on  God,  and  went  to  Him  with  'every  burden,  every 
are.'  We  believed  in  the  faithful  Promiser,  but  'kept  our  powder 
ry.'  Once  I  remember  we  had  been  a  long  time  without  meat,  and 
iking  my  rifle,  in  the  early  morning,  I  went  out  hoping  to  find  a 
eer.  Just  back  of  the  historic  Cincinnati  Hall,  but  a  long  shot 
ff  from  me,  I  saw  a  fine  deer  standing  and  gazing  at  me.  I  said  to 
lyself,  now  the  Lord  has  sent  us  some  meat.  But  to  make  a  sure 
hot  of  it,  I  will  steady  my  rifle  against  this  tree  two  or  three  steps 
ff.  But  the  moment  I  moved  for  the  tree  the  deer,  of  course,  moved 
ff.  I  reproached  myself  for  my  lost  chance  and  followed  on,  re- 
vived never  again  to  give  up  a  good  chance  for  a  doubtful  better, 
oon,  however,  he  came  out  from  behind  a  brush-heap  broadside  to, 
nd  thinking  if  I  could  put  an  air-hole  through  his  breathing  ap- 
aratus  I  could  stop  him,  I  let  go.  I  saw  I  had  hit  him,  and  fol- 
ywed  on  and  found  him  lying  in  the  cart-path  a  short  distance 
way.  Taking  out  my  knife  I  bled  him,  and  then  kneeled  by  his 
Lde  aud  thanked  the  Lord  that  he  had  given  us  some  meat." 


An  alumnus  of  1846  writes : 

"I  remember  the  striking  way  in  which  he  ended  a  sermon  to  the 
upenitent  one  Sabbath.     Everyone  had  been  greatly  moved.      He 


70  OBERLINIANA. 

spoke  of  the  angels  tolling  the  great  bell  of  Heaven  over  the  doom 

of  lost  souls,  and  ^grasping  an  imaginary    rope,  added   tremendous 

force  to  his  words  by  representing  their  solemn  work. 

* 
■*  * 

At  one  time,  Theodore  Tilton,  who  greatly  admired  Mr.  Finney, 
personally,  but  who  had  little  sympathy  with  his  views,  came  from 
a  distance  to  spend  a  day  in  Oberlin.  Strolling  out  with  the  Presi- 
dent after  supper,  he  remarked: 

"  Mr.  Finney,  I  alwa}rs  thought  that  you  were  a  real  good  man 
but  I  don't  agree  with  you  in  your  religious  views." 

"Why,  what  views!"  said  Mr.  Finney. 

"  Well,  the  doctrine  of  the  existence  of  a  personal  Devil." 

"Oh!  if  you  only  resist  him  you'll  find  out  that  there  is  one,' 
was  the  reply. 


\ 


Another  anecdote  characteristic  of  his  aptness  of  answer  is  this 
During  the  progress  of  the  regular  Frida}T  afternoon  prayer  meeting 
one  day,  a  lady  arose,  and  in  a  gloomy,  whanging  tone  of  voic 
stated  that  she  had  lived  in  Oberlin  for  some  time.  That  she  had 
moved  to  Oberlin  from  another  State  in  order  to  be  among  sanctified 
people.  She  had  heard  so  much  about  the  perfection  of  the  Ober- 
linites  that  she  had  desired  to  unite  with  them,  but  she  was  sorry 
to  say  that  she  had  found  many  faults  among  them  and  was  greatly 
dissatisfied  with  the  sad  state  of  matters  in  the  town.  As  she  was 
proceeding  to  say  more,  President  Finney,  who  always  led  the  meet- 
ings, interrupted  her  melancholy  strain  by  asking  in  a  cheer}^  voice, 

"Sister,  sister,  how  much  have  you  done  to  make  Oberlin  better 
since  you  arrived  amongst  us?" 

The  sister  sat  right  down. 

* 
*  * 

Few  men  have  lived  in  our  day  who  have  left  such  an  impress  j 
upon  their  generation  as  Charles  G.  Finney.  A  man  of  wonderful 
eloquence,  he  went  like  a  flame  of  fire  through  the  churches  of  New 
York.  He  preached  the  "Law"  in  a  way  that  thrilled  with  awe 
and  terror,  as  all  who  have  heard  his  first  sermon  on  "  The  wages 
of  sin  is  death,"  will  bear  witness.  He  pictured  the  world  of  dark- 
ness, lit  up  only  by  lurid  flames,  by  the  light  of  which  the  damned 
read  on  the  high  walls,  from  which  they  could  not  escape,  Wages! 
Wages  !  WAGES  !  affecting  his  hearers  as  Edwards  was  wont  to. 
But  he  had  a  tender,  sympathetic  side  also.  Like  Mr.  Lincoln,  in 
;be  midst  of  all  his  sorrows  and  cares  he  might  be  moved  in  either 
direction,  now  to  hi  lighter,  now  to  tears. 


PRESIDENT  FINNEY.  71 

At  the  gathering  of  friends  and  alumni,  at  Oberlin,  in  1876,  in 
nemoriam  of  President  Finney,  Rev.  C.  C.  Foote,  of  Detroit,  among 
)ther  things  said : 

"  Mr.  Finney  was  a  mighty  reformer.  I  was  present  in  Hartford 
vhen  he  broke  the  thunderbolt  on  slavery;  and  you  all  know  that 
lis  voice  was  as  pronounced  against  that  crime  of  the  present  age 
—Freemasonry.  I  saw  and  heard  him  the  first  time  when  he  was 
mgaged  in  that  glorious  revival  in  Rochester,  which  has  been  already 
lescribed.  I,  too,  heard  that  sermon  from  the  text,  k  The  wages  of 
dn  is  death,'  and  for  two  hours  it  rained  hailstones,  '  every  one 
ibout  the  weight  of  a  talent.'  When  I  came  to  Oberlin,  I  could  not 
mdure  his  eyes,  but  when  I  became  acquainted  with  him,  I  liked 
lothing  better.  I  once  had  what  seemed  to  me  the  great  trial  of 
reaching  in  his  presence;  but  when  he  had  prayed  for  me,  I  could 
lave  preached  anywhere." 


It  was  Mr.  Finney's  custom  to  offer  a  short  prayer  after  each  re- 
;itation,  the  moment  the  bell  rang  the  subject  in  hand  was  dropped 
md  the  desires  made  known.  One  day  when  a  class  in  theology 
lad  been  quite  voluble  in  expressing  their  own  views,  at  the  right 
noment  Mr.  Finney  rose  and  said:  "Oh  Lord,  don't  let  these  }roung 
nen  think  because  they  have  let  down  a  little  line  in  the  infinite 
;ea  of  thy  greatness,  that  they  have  sounded  all  its  depths.  Save 
hem  from  conceit,  Oh  Lord!" 

At  another  time  on  account  of  ill-health  he  met  his  class  at 
)wn  house,  where  they  enjoyed  the  luxury  of  the  easy  chairs  and 
ounges  of  the  parlor.  Unfortunately  these  surroundings  tended  to 
Irowsiness,  and  at  one  time  a  student  fell  asleep.  As  he  dismissed 
lis  class  that  day  he  praj^ed  that  its  members  might  be  interested 
n  their  study  and  kept  from  sleeping.  The  next  day  the  boys  were 
lismayed  to  find  that  straight-backed  wooden  chairs  from  the 
ritehen  had  taken  the  place  of  the  former  cosy  seats.  Mr.  Finney 
mtered,  and  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eye  said :  "You  see,  young  gen- 
tlemen, that   I  have  found  a  way  to  answer  nxy  own  prayers." 

*  * 

On  another  occasion,  when  the  boys  had  been  unusually  dull  and 
leavy,  and  the  President  had  been  in  despair  in  consequence,  as  the 
Dell  rang  the  end  of  the  hour  he  burst  out  in  anguish:  "Oh  Lord, 
2,0  with  these  wretched  boys  and  help  them  to  fish  up  their  lost 
souls." 


72  OBERLINIANA. 

Mi*.  Finney's  manner  in  the  pulpit  was  characteristic,  so  that 
while  never  saying  that  at  which  offense  could  be  taken,  he  would 
still  occasionally  be  very  personal  in  his  remarks.  For  example, 
when  preaching  on  the  lack  of  faithful  effort,  he  might  turn  around 
and  say:    "How  is  it  with  Brother  Morgan  here?"  or,  pointing  to 

different  parts  of  the  church,     "How   is  it   with  Brother   H 's 

neighborhood?  Is  Brother  D.  fully  alive  to  the  work?"  His  power, 
as  one  who  knew  him  well  told  us,  consisted  in  his  clinching  the 
nails  after  driving  them.  His  sermons  would  be  closed  with  ring- 
ing appeals  which  were  irresistable. 


His  personal  relations  with  his  God  were  constantly  evidenced. 
He  walked  as  seeing  Him  who  is  invisible.  One  morning  during 
family  worship  he  was  reading  a  passage  of  Scriptures,  a  certain 
verse  of  which  seemed  to  puzzle  him.  He  read  it  two  or  three  times 
aloud  and  then  turning  to  a  student  present  said:  "Brother  Cook, 
what  does  this  mean?"  Not  receiving  the  desired  light  he  kneeled 
down  and  prayed  earnestly  for  a  moment,  then,  rising  with  glowing 
face,  said:  "Yes,  Lord,  yes;  I  understand  it  now,"  and  proceeded 
with  the  exercise. 


His  knowledge  of  character  and  personal  power  are  indicated  by 
this  incident.  The  names  of  the  parties  are  omitted.  During  his 
presidentship  a  student  was  attending  the  college  who  was  a  decided 
sceptic.  An  aunt  of  the  young  man's  wished  him  to  be  under  Mr. 
Finney's  preaching,  and  during  a  revival  service  managed  to  seat 
him  in  the  inside  end  of  the  pew,  in  order  that  he  might  be  kept 
from  going  out.  The  youth  started  once  or  twice  as  the  speaker 
advanced  his  arguments,  but  each  time  was  restrained  at  his  aunt's 
request.  After  the  meeting  Mr.  Finney  came  down  the  aisle  and 
spoke  to  him.  Being  terribly  angry  the  man  spat  in  his  face  and 
rushed  away.  During  the  evening,  however,  he  felt  some  remorse 
over  his  conduct,  and  going  to  the  President's  house  met  the  man 
he  had  insulted  at  the  door. 

"Mr.  Finney,  I  am  no  less  a  sceptic  than  I  was  before,  but  I  want 
to  spologize  for  my  conduct  after  the  service  to-day." 

Without  a  word  Mr.  Finney  closed  the  door.  The  young  man 
went  away,  fell  under  deep  conviction  of  sin,  and  in  the  middle  of 
the  night  went  back  to  the  same  door  and  begged  for  help.  He  was 
taken  in  and  prayed  with,  was  converted,  and  became  a  consistent 
Christian. 


PRESIDENT  FINflEY.  73 

A  conceited  young  infidel,  attracted  chiefly  by  curiosity,  once 
came  into  the  inquiry-room.  Mr.  Finney  approached  him  with 
solemn  questions  touching  his  soul's  interest.  Instantly  the  young- 
man  bristled  up  for  an  argument  against  the  truths  of  Christianity. 

The  great  preacher  saw  at  a  glance  that  the  tyro  merely  wished  to 
displa}T  himself.  He  had  no  time  to  witness  such  a  silly  pageant, 
as  a  hundred  anxious  inquirers  were  waiting  for  him;  he  therefore 
gave  the  fledgling  just  one  long  look  of  mingled  scorn  and  pity,  and 
passed  on. 

No  medicine  ever  touched  the  diseased  spot  more  speedily  than 
that  look  reached  that  man's  guilty  conscience.  He  saw  in  a 
moment  that  the  man  of  God  had  read  him  through  and  through, 
that  his  immense  conceit,  and  his  palpable  insincerity,  had  not  so 
much  as  a  gauze  veil  over  them,  and  he  was  confounded.  Instantly, 
his  own  sinfulness  was  revealed  to  him  as  never  before.  From 
that  moment,  he  was  struck  under  genuine  conviction;  was  soon 
converted,  and  thanked  Mr.  Finney  for  that  reproving  glance.  He 
spoke  of  the  consummate  wisdom  of  that  silent  rebuke,  and  freely 
acknowledged  that  nothing  else  could  have  touched  him,  or  so  soon 
have  brought  him  to  his  senses. 

*  * 

President  Finney  had  piercing  eyes,  seemingly  with  power  to  read 
one's  inmost  thoughts.  His  readiness  to  question  the  unconverted 
added  to  this  insight,  would  often  lead  such  students  to  cross  a  road 
or  go  a  roundabout  way  in  order  to  escape  meeting  him'.  But  he 
was  in  reality  a  very  cordial  man,  and  Christians  loved  to  meet  him. 
To  illustrate  these  traits  we  insert  the  following: 

In  1836  Prof.  Finney  had  the  "lost  voice"  trouble,  as  it  was  called. 
A  student  who  joined  the  college  in  that  year,  writes:  "I  had  letters 
of  introduction  to  him,  and  when  I  went  to  deliver  them  I  was  told 
that  he  could  not  talk  to  me.  However  he  looked  through  my  letters 
and  then  he  looked  through  me  until  I  felt  it.  Then  he  rose,  gave  me 
his  hand,  and  talked  very  freely,  and  I  never  after  lost  his  good  will. 
His  great  eyes  were  his  strongest  force." 

The  same  writer  sends  another:  "One  Sunday  he  preached  a  tre- 
mendous sermon.  Many  of  the  congregation  were  dazed  or  in  fear. 
After  we  came  home  I  sat  down  to  dinner  table  with  two  Professors 
and  a  tutor.     Talk  became  animated  immediately  after  grace,  and 

I  said  to  Prof.  II :  v  How  is  it  that  while  I  and  others  feel  the 

sermon  so  much,  you  do  not?"  "Ah,"  said  he,  "you  are  not  so  old, 
nor  have  you  thought  so  much."  "Ah,"  thought  I.  "I'll  wait  till  I 
am  older,  and  think  too." 


7J  OBERLINIANA. 

We  suppose  that  the  following  is  true — at  least  it  might  have 
occurred: 

A  young  man  who  had  graduated  at  a  certain  Eastern  college  and 
afterward  at  Harvard,  and  who  had  an  overweening  opinion  of  the 
grandeur  of  Eastern  colleges,  and  a  very  poor  opinion  of  Western 
places  of  education,  being  on  a  visit  to  Oberlin,  expressed  his  views 
one  day  to  President  Finney.  He  made  the  statement  with  consid- 
erable pride  that  he  had  graduated  at  two  Eastern  colleges,  you 
know,  and  was  quite  superior  in  his  way.  Fixing  his  eagle  eye  upon 
the  3-outh  the  President  remarked:  "Young  friend,  there  is  a  man 
just  out  of  town  who  has  an  immense  calf.  It  was  raised  on  the 
milk  of  two  cows,  and  I  suppose  that  if  it  could  have  had  milk  from 
another  it  would  have  b3en  the  biggest  calf  in  the  county." 


As  he  was  out  walking  one  day,  meeting  a  tailor  by  the  name  of 
Godly,  he  stopped  and  said:  "  I  don't  think  I  have  met  you  before. 
What  is  your  name?"  On  being  informed  he  exclaimed,  "  Godly ! 
Godly!  Well,  are  you  a  Christian,  Mr.  Godly?"  "No,  sir,"  was 
the  reply.  "Well,  then  it  might  as  well  be  Un-Godly,"  said  Mr. 
Finney,  sorrowfully. 

At  one  time  a  young  lady  attending  the  institution  happened  to 
fall  into  very  great  need  of  money.  Not  knowing  what  to  do,  she 
made  the  matter  a  subject  of  prayer,  and  then,  without  having  men- 
tioned the  trouble  to  any  other  person,  determined  to  speak  to  Pres. 
Finney  about  it  at  the  next  inquiry  and  conference  meeting.  The 
evening  came  and  the  President  was  going  from  one  to  another,  was 
counseling  and  encouraging,  when,  coming  to  this  young  lady,  he 
thrust  a  five  dollar  bill  in  her  hand  and  passed  on  without  a  word. 

*  * 

At  one  time,  in  one  of  the  Eastern  States,  a  certain  young  lady 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  revival  meetings  to  create  fun.  Be- 
ing a  good  mimic  she  would  afterwards  amuse  her  companions  by 
taking  off  the  words  and  manner  of  Mr.  Finney.  One  evening  when 
she  was  present  the  gallery  crowded  with  people  partially  gave  way 
and  created  quite  a  panic.  Instead  of  seeeking  exit  at  the  doors  or 
windows,  as  many  were  doing,  she  rushed  to  the  pulpit,  and  clasp- 
ing her  arms  around  the  man  she  had  so  often  mocked,  cried:  "Save 
me !    Save  me !" 


Professor   Morgan's   house,  now  the  conservatory  building,  was 


PRESIDENT  FINNEY.  75 

formerly  surrounded  by  a  fence;  the  two  paths  to  the  door  were  laid 
out  from  the  street  as  at  present.  A  peculiarity  of  the  household  was 
the  length  of  time  required  to  answer  the  door  bell ;  a  long  time 
generally  intervening  before  visitors  were  admitted.  One  clay  Presi- 
dent Finney  rang  the  bell  and  the  Professor's  son  answered  the  call 
with  unusual  promptness.  As  he  opened  the  door  the  President 
was  just  going  out  of  the  gate;  turning  around,  he  said:  "Oh, 
Charles,  is  that  you?  I  thought  that  I  would  ring  the  bell,  go 
down  town,  and  be  let  in  when  I  came  back." 


Mr.  Hopkins  says  that  during  the  interest  aroused  in  the  year 
1840,  a  young  man  named  Weed  became  so  impressed  by  Mr.  Fin- 
ney's powerful  preaching  one  Sabbath,  that  he  cried  out  aloud  in  his 
anguish  over  his  sins.  The  preacher  stopped  and  called  upon  him 
to  come  to  the  altar;  the  convicted  one  did  so,  and  theu  Mr.  Finney 
prayed  that  as  the  Lord  had  lifted  the  veil  a  little  so  he  would  fully 
disclose  to  the  penitent  one  the  riches  of  his  grace;  The  young  man 
was  converted. 

*  * 

When  the  grist  mill  on  Main  street  was  burned  one  night  about 
forty  years  ago.  The  President  was  present  with  the  rest.  On  his 
way  home,  after  the  fire  was  about  extinguished,  he  met  a  young- 
man  to  whom  he  said:  "Good  evening,  we've  had  quite  a  fire,  haven't 
we?  Are  you  a  Christian?" 

Rev.  George  Thompson  vouches  for  the  truth  of  the  following: 
During  one  of  the  early  years  of  President  Finney's  ministrations 
a  student  attended  the  college  who  pretended  to  be  an  infidel,  a  very 
rare  kind  of  character  for  Oberlin.  One  day  after  hearing  the 
President  preach,  this  student  called  on  him  and  said : 

"Mr.  Finney,  I'm  afraid  I've  committed  the  unpardonable  sin." 
"Well,"  replied  Mr.  Finney,  "I  guess  you  have."  The  so-called 
infidel,  who  had  merely  called  for  the  sake  of  argument,  was  com- 
pletely taken  back,  and  being  led  to  a  better  state  of  mind,  was  con- 
vinced of  his  folly,  and,  like  many  others  of  whom  we  have  written, 
became  a  Christian. 


The  following  incident  relative  to  Judge  Steele  appeared  in  the 
Drawer  of  Harper's  Magazine  during  1878:  It  was  one  of  President 
Finney's  ways,  as  he  was  absent  minded,  to  ask  eveiyone  he  met  or 
spoke  to — for  he  knew  everyone — for  his  or  her  name.     He  was  in 


76  OBERLINIANA. 

the  habit  of  taking  a  daily  walk  in  which  he  regularly  met  a  3'oung 
man  whom  he  alwaj^s  saluted  with,  "  Good  morning.  I've  met  you 
before,  I  am  sure.  What  is  your  name?"  The  young  man,  weary 
of  making  daily  reply,  one  morning  responded  with  a  new  name : 

"  Tom  Nokes,  Sir." 

The  President  stopped  short,  surprised  by  the  unfamiliar  name, 
and  fastening  his  eyes  on  the  accustomed  face,  exclaimed  brusquety, 
"  Why,  John  Steele,  how  you  do  lie" 

It  is  presumed  that  he  was  never  puzzled  for  the  right  name  after- 
wards. 

#  # 

During  the  war,  before  Abraham  Lincoln  was  fully  converted  to 
the  anti-slavery  movement,  President  Finney  wrote  three  letters  to 
him.  "  On  bended  knees,"  said  he,  "  I  wrote  one,  and  then  I  prayed 
God  so  earnestly  all  the  while  that  it  might  move  him.  But  no 
answer  came.  I  could  not  be  at  peace.  I  wrote  again  and  waited 
This  time  there  came  a  little  note,  giving  no  thanks  nor  promise 
only  asking  a  question.  I  answered  it,  and  knew  that  God  had  pre- 
vailed." It  was  not  long  after  that  that  the  Proclamation  of  Eman- 
cipation was  made. 

*  * 

Mr.  Finney  took  great  delight  in  music,  but  had  no  sympathy 
with  what  was  simply  artistic.  Once,  after  his  church  choir  had 
rendered  a  difficult  anthem,  the  words  of  which  had  not  been  dis- 
tinctly articulated,  he  stepped  forward  on  the  pulpit  and  prayed  : 
,';  Oh  Lord,  we  trust  that  Thou  hast  understood  the  song  the}^  have 
tried  to  sing;  Thou  knowest  that  we  could  not  understand  a  word 
of  it." 


We  have  been  reminded  of  the  great  sermon  on  "  Wages."  Very: 
many  persons  will  also  recall  with  interest  President  Finney's  dis- 
course on  the  Prodigal  Son.  Professor  Monroe  speaks  of  the  great 
power  added  to  the  vivid  words  of  the  speaker  by  his  dramatic 
gestures.  When  describing  the  loving  anxiety  of  the  father,  he 
would  shade  his  eyes  with  his  hands,  and  then  look  far  off  for  the 
boy.  Then  he  would  feel  for  his  eyeglasses,  and  no  one  would  for  a 
moment  think  of  the  anachronism,  so  naturally  and  pathetically 
was  the  action  represented.  To  illustrate  further  this  great  point 
of  the  anxiety  and  constant  watching  of  the  parents,  he  would  walk 
to  the  end  of  the  platform  and,  looking  as  if  into  the  distance, 
would  say : 

"Ma,  don't  that  look  like  our  James?11 


PRESIDENT  FINNEY.  77 

And  would  thus  continue  until   there  would  not  be  one  in  the 

audience  before  him  but  would  be  stirred  by  the  truths  set  forth. 

* 
*  ■* 

Dr.  Morgan  himself  relates  the  following:  During  a  period  when 
rain  had  been  greatly  needed,  he  officiated  one  Sabbath  morning  in 
the  First  Church,  and  during  the  services  offered  a  fervent  prayer 
for  rain.  Before  the  meeting  closed  a  slight  shower  occurred,  which, 
while  not  heavy,  was  still  very  grateful.  On  his  way  home  from 
church,  the  preacher  happened  to  walk  behind  two  students  between 
whom  the  following  conversation  took  place.     Said  one  : 

"  Did  you  notice  what  a  remarkable  answer  to  prayer  we  wit- 
nessed this  morning?  Rain  was  asked  for,  and  a  shower  came.  To 
be  sure,  not  very  heavy,  but  yet  it  did  some  good.'1 

'•Oh,"  replied  the  other,  "  that  was  nothing.  You  should  hear 
President  Finney  pray  for  rain.  When  he  asks  for  it,  it  comes 
down  in  a  flood." 


To  instance  the  power  in  prayer  and  faith  of  the  subject  of  these 
sketches,  we  have  included  the  following  well-known  incident. 

A  very  severe  drought  occurred  during  the  year  1853.  The  fields 
were  dry  and  the  cattle  suffering.  The  prospect  of  rain  was  almost 
hopeless.  One  Sabbath,  when  not  a  cloud  was  in  the  sky,  Mr.  Fin- 
ney made  the  opening  prayer  of  the  church  a  cry  for  rain.  After 
describing  the  sad  condition  of  the  people,  he  continued:  "  OXorcl, 
send  us  rain!  and  send  it  now!  Although  there  is  no  sign  of  it, 
it  is  an  easy  thing  for  Thee  to  do.  Send  it  now,  Lord,  for  Christ's 
sake!  " 

The  services  proceeded,  but  by  the  time  he  got  half  through  his 
sermon  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents,  so  that  he  could  scarcely 
be  heard.  He  stopped  and  said:  "We'll  praise  God  for  this 
rain,"  and  gave  out  the  hymn  beginning, — 

"  When  all  Thy  mercies,  O  my  God, 
My  rising  sonl  surveys,"  etc. 

Many  in  the  congregation  could  not  sing  for  weeping. 

At  another  time  Mr.  Finney  illustrated  the  familiar  and  argu- 
mentative way  in  which  he  was  accustomed  to  approach  and  address 
the  Deity,  by  a  prayer  for  rain,  in  the  following  words :  "  O  Lord, 
the  long  looked-for  clouds  are  at  last  over  our  heads,  and  we  pray 
that  the}r  may  now  burst  and  deluge  the  parched  earth.  Do  not  let 
them  pass  by  and  discharge  their  water  upon  the  lake,  as  the  clouds 
have  done  so  often  of  late;  for  thou  knowest  that  there  is  already 
water  enough  in  the  lake." 


78  OBERLINIANA. 

In  this  connection  it  will  be  proper  to  insert  a  poem  written  by  a 
well  known  journalist,  and  which,  with  comments  attached,  appeared 
in  the  Lorain  County  News  of  May  2d  1866. 

"  Editor  News: — I  think  your  readers  will  feel  a  special  interest 
in  the  poem  'Bless  God  for  Rain',  (a  recently  prepared  manuscript 
copy  of  which  I  enclose,)  because  of  the  circumstance  of  its  origin, 
and  the  recent  visit  of  the  author  at  Oberlin,  and  his  public  lectures 
delivered  there. 

"  Several  years  ago,  during  a  severe  drought,  prayer  was  offered  in 
some  of  the  churches  for  rain.  Rev.  Charles  G-.  Finney  made  it  the 
subject  of  special  prayer  day  after  day,  and  when  the  rain  came  the 
author  of  the  poem  heard  him  exclaim :  '  Bless  God  for  Rain !'  He 
spoke  with  so  much  unction,  while  the  tears  ran  down  his  face,  that 
all  who  saw  and  heard  him  were  deeply  impressed  by  his  exclama- 
tion of  gratitude.  The  poem  was  first  published  in  the  Christian 
Citizen;  and  since  that  has  made  the  tour  of  the  press  in  Europe 
as  well  as  this  country:" 

BLESS  GOD  FOR  RAIN. 

BY    GEORGE    W.  BUNGAY. 

"  Bless  God  for  rain !"  the  good  man  said, 

And  wiped  away  the  grateful  tear ; 
That  we  may  have  our  daily  bread, 

He  drops  a  shower  upon  us  here. 
Our  Father !     Thou  who  dwell'st  in  heaven, 

We  thank  Thee  for  thy  pearty  shower ! 
The  blessed  present  thou  hast  given 

To  man,  and  beast,  and  bird  and  flower. 

The  dusty  earth,  with  lips  apart, 

Looked  up  where  rolled  an  orb  of  flame, 
As  though  a  prayer  came  from  its  heart 

For  rain  to  come ;  and  lo,  it  came ! 
The  Indian  corn  with  silken  plume 

And  flowers  with  tiny  pitchers  filled, 
Send  up  their  praise  of  sweet  perfume, 

For  precious  drops  the  clouds  distilled. 

The  modest  grass  is  fresh  and  green ; 

The  brooklet  swells  its  song  again  : 
Methinks  an  angel's  wing  is  seen 

In  every  cloud  that  brings  us  rain. 

liter e  is  a  rainbow  in  the  sky, 

Upon  the  arch  where  tempests  trod; 
God  wrote  it  ere  the  world  was  dry — 

It  is  the  autograph  of  God. 


PRESIDENT  FINNEY.  79 

Up  where  the  heavy  thunders  rolled, 

And  clouds  of  fire  were  swept  along, 
The  sun  rides  in  a  sea  of  gold, 

And  soaring  larks  dissolve  in  song. 
The  rills  that  gu«*h  from  mountains  rude, 

Flow  trickling  to  the  verdant  base — 
Just  like  the  tears  of  gratitude, 

That  often  stain  a  good  man's  face. 

Great  King  of  Peace,  deign  now  to  bless; 

The  windows  of  the  sky  unbar ; 
Shower  down  the  reign  of  Righteousness, 

And  wash  away  the  stain  of  war ; 
And  let  the  radiant  bond  of  love 

In  beauty  mark  the  moral  sky, 
Like  that  fair  sign  unrolled  above 

But  not  like  it  to  fade  and  die. 

April  14,  1866. 

* 

Deacon  Pease  was  what  might,  in  this  generation  be  regardecP'as 
a  rather  austere  man.  He  would  criticise  a  man  because  there  were 
more  buttons  than  were  actually  necessary  ipon  his  coat.  One  Sun- 
day President  Finney  preached  on  "  Pride."  J  After  handling  the  sub- 
ject in  its  more  common  phases  he  began  to  show  how  even  the  pro- 
fessing Christians  are  guilty  of  pride.  He  told  how  some  were  ac- 
tually proud  of  their  humility  or  their  unselfishness.  "  Why,". said 
he,  "I  shouldn't  wonder  if  even  our  good  Brother  Pease  is  guilty  of 
taking  pride  at  times  in  the  reflection  that  he  has  so  little  pride!" 

•X-  # 

To  illustrate  his  power  of  double  abstraction,  Professor  Penfield 
relates  that  on  one  occasion,  while  hearing  a  recitation  from  the 
theological  students,  while  one  was  speaking  he  was  observed  to 
have  his  e}Te  fixed  on  the  window  before  him.  Walking  slowty 
across  the  room-,  and  waving  a  few  circles  with  his  finger,  he  sud- 
denly brought  it  against  the  pane,  exclaiming,  "Why,  I  declare,  the 
first  mosquito  of  the  season!"  The  laughter  of  the  class  caused  him 
to  turn   with  the   remark,  "Go  on  with   the  lesson,  gentlemen.     I 

heard  every  word.'1 

* 

*  ■* 

When  Theodore  Tilton  was  bidding  him  farewell  at  the  close  of 
his  visit,  while  shaking  his  hand,  Mr.  Finney  said:  "  Theodore,  why 
did  you  print  those  loose  articles  on  divorce?  Theodore,  you'll  go 
to  hell  as  surely  as  you  live"  Tilton  told  this  story  to  one  of  the 
members  of  the  Faculty,  remarking:  "But  Mr.  Finney  was  sincere, 
and  it  didn't  seem  strange  to  hear  him  say  it." 


80  OBERLINIANA. 

We  take  the  following  from  the  Oberlin  Review : 

Scene:  Tappan  ^Square.  Time:  generations  ago.  A  knot  of 
students  on  the  walk  and  a  young  theologue  approaching  in  the  dis- 
tance. 

First  student. — "Boys,  yonder  comes  B — .  Let's  see  if  I  can't 
make  him  swear.1'  (Addresses  B— ,)  "B — ,  they  say  that  you 
think  a  great  deal  of  President  Finney,  but  you  must  acknowledge 
that  that  sermon  of  his  last  Sunday  was  the  most  wishy-washy 
thing  ever  uttered  in  that  pulpit." 

B — ,  (with  frenzy)  "Gosh!  "When  the  Lord  God  Almighty  left 
off  making  President  Finney's  heels  he  just  began  on  .most  men's 
heads.'1 

This  same  student,  whom  many  will  recognize  by  his  favorite 
interjection,  used  to  get  so  enthusiastic  while  listening  to  President 
Finney's  preaching  that  he  would  be  betrayed  into  the  same  form 
of  expression.  One  of  the  members  of  the  present  Faculty  tells  of 
seeing  him  bring  his  fist  down  upon  his  knee  in  the  First  Church 
gallery  with  an  emphatic,  "  I  say  amen  to  that, —  by  gosh!" 


Oberlin  has  always  contained  a  strong  anti-secret  society  senti- 
ment. At  the  present  day  the  rule  still  holds  in  the  First  Church 
prohibiting  the  admission  to  membership  of  persons  belonging  to' 
"any  masonic  organization."  In  1867,  for  nearly  two  months  extra 
meetings  were  held  every  week,  and  often  twice  a  week,  to  consider 
this  important  question.  Mr.  Finney  took  two  entire  Sabbaths  in 
which  to  discuss  the  subject  of  Masonry.  Up  to  the  time  of  his 
conversion,  the  speaker  himself  had  been  a  Master  Mason,  but  gave 
up  the  lodge  when  he  was  converted,  and  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life  was  its  bitter  opponent.  His  principal  objections  to  the  sys- 
tem were  that  its  spirit  is  intensely  selfish  and  exclusive,  and  while 
claiming  to  be  benevolent,  shuts  out  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  race, 
and  those  the  most  need}'.  "  A  Mason  voluntarily  commits  his  soul 
for  a  lifetime  to  a  course  of  partiality,  which  is  the  direct  opposite 
of  that  universal  benevolence  which  is  the  essence  of  holiness,  and 
which  it  is  the  aim  of  the  Church  to  promote.  Hence,  though  its 
members  may  intend  no  such  thing,  the  Masonic  institution  is  an- 
tagonistic to  Christianity.     And  an  intelligent   and   sincere  Mason 

—  one  who  knows  the  purpose  and  plans   of  Masonry   and  adheres 
to  them,  taking  extra-judicial  oaths  contrary  to  the  laws  of  the  land 

—  cannot  be  a  Christian,   and   hence   should  not   be   received   into 
church-fellowship." 

Like  Gough,  he  gestured  a  good  deal,   but  much  more   appropri- 


PRESIDENT  FINNEY.  81 

ately.  Thus  in  the  pulpit,  one  Sabbath,  he  spoke  of  the  wicked 
combining  against  God,  and  said  that  they  might  just  as  well 
stand  on  the  corner  and  ring  a  bell,  shouting  :  ;w  Hurrah  for  the 
Devil !"  and,  lifting  his  arm,  he  repeated  this  shout  of  the  enemies 
of  the  Almighty,  "Hurrah!  hurrah  for  the  Devil. "' 

4:-  * 

Rev.  Leonard  S.  Parker,  '38  theol.,  once  said. 

"He  was  one  of  the  most  generous-minded  men  I  ever  knew — 
geuerous  to  those  who  made  mistakes,  generous  to  children.  My 
little  girl  would  get  hold  of  his  hand  and  walk  clear  home  with  him. 
My  wife  went  to  him  at  one  time  and  told  him  that  Mr.  Spencer,  a 
missionary  among  the  Ojibway  Indians,  had  no  overcoat,  and  he 
sent  him  the  best  overcoat  he  had,  one  that  had  doubtless  cost  him 
fifty  dollars. 

He  had  no  tinge  of  asceticism  about  him,  not  a  single  particle. 
He  believed  that  self  denial  was  a  condition  of  disciples  hip,  but  he 
had  no  asceticism. 

There  was  never  a  man  that  trained  himself  more  like  an  athlete 
for  his  work,  in  eating,  drinking  and  sleeping.  How  many  miles 
I  have  walked  with  him  in  hunting!  How  often  we  knelt  beneath 
those  tall  oaks  in  prayer!  In  all  my  intercourse  with  him,  I  never 
knew  any  bitterness  of  spirit  in  him." 


Dr.  Morgan  tells  of  hearing  Mr.  Finney  pray  somewhat  as  fol- 
lows, once:  "And  now,  oh  Lord,  we  pray  Thee  for  Andrew  Johnson, 
Wilt  thou  show  him  that  he  is  only  a  man,  and  after  all  a  very  poor 
specimen  of  a  man.  But  if  he  persists  in  misapprehending  himself, 
then  wilt  thou  put  him  to  bed.  Put  a  hook  in  his  nose  and  keep 
him  from  doing  this,  mischief/1 

This  was  at  a  time  when  Johnson  was  quite  feeble. 


A  former  student  tells  the  following  charming  incident: 
One  time  when  President  Finney  was  visiting  in  the  East  at  the 
house  of  a  friend,  a  young  lady  was  introduced  to  him  whose  phy- 
siognomy seemed  to  him  to  indicate  Jewish  descent.  Referring  to 
this  incidentally  the  lady  showed  that  offense  had  been  taken,  which 
the  President  perceiving,  said:  UAU  the  daughters  of  Sarah  are  not 
as  beautiful  as  Sarah  was."  With  this  delicate  compliment  he  com- 
pletely disarmed  the  displeasure  of  the  lady. 


.CHAPTER  IX. 

0BERLIN    ROMANCE. 


IDEAS  as  to  what  should  be  included  under  this  chapter 
.....  might  differ.     President  Finney  once  said  that  the  history  of 

J£  Oberlin  College  was  extremely  romantic    in  every  particular. 

^Following  out  this  idea  the  title  written  above  might  have  ap- 
peared On  every  page  of  our  little  volume.  Others  of  different 
jmind  would  expect  to  find  here  only  those  scenes  to  which  the 
May  moonlight  is  best  suited.  With  a  reckless  indifference 
to  literary  proprieties  we  have  included  some  incidents  calculated 
to  suit  the  hearts  of  both  classes.  We  have  also  introduced  some 
poetry  as  the  extreme  of  sentiment,  and  have  filled  up  the  chapter 
with  material  which  does  not  properly  belong  elsewhere  anymore 
than  it  does  here.  So  we  trust  to  please  everybody — or  not  please 
anybody, —  just  as  you  please. 

In  the  first  Ladies'  Hall  the  dining  arrangements  were  somewhat 
as  at  present.  Certain  ladies  and  gentlemen  would  combine  and  sit 
together  for  the  term.  Such  arrangements  were  often  exclusive. 
Mrs.  Taylor,  of  '41,  has  given  us  a  charming  story  of  the  table  and 
associations  with  which  she  was  connected  in  1839.  The  modes  of 
entertaining  themselves  might  well  be  followed  by  those  to-day  who 
find  their  conversation  limited  to  meteorological  considerations. 

In  the  morning  they  would  talk  over  some  religious  topic,  Bible 
verses  or  the  like,  as  a  means  of  beginning  the  day  well.  At  noon 
recitations  and  study  of  the  morning  generally  received  attention; 
while  at  supper  they  took  tarns  in  reading  some  literary  selection 
and  remarking  upon  the  author. 

Again,  they  would  "slip  questions  under  each  other's  plates,  and 
the  questions  thus  brought  forward  would  be  made  topics  for  con- 
versation. On  one  occasion  a  piece  of.  poetry  wTas  found  in  this 
way,  which  brought  in  the  names  of  those  who  sat  at  the  table.  It 
may  revive  pleasant  recollections  in  many  hearts,  so  it  is  here  in- 
serted as  reproduced  by  Mrs  Taylor  entirely  from  memory.  It  was 
written  originally  by  John  H.  Byrd,  of  '43: 

Full  grand  are  our  Halls 

And  scattered  all  o'er 
The  shelves  on  the  walls 

Is  classical  Lore. 

The  Day  is  full  warm, 

Yet  strange  tho'  it  seem, 
Some  Snow  in  our  palace 

Can  surely  be  seen. 


OBERLIN  ROMANCE.  83 

'Tis  not  the  cold,  chilling 

Snow  of  the  north ; 
Yet  Cowles  are  a'glowing 

Down  on  the  hearth. 

A  Byrd  is  here,  too, 

With  its  featherless  Wing ; 
It  opens  its  Bill 

And  struggles  to  sing. 

Its  theme  is  most  lofty 

Its  Style's  very  poor. 
'Tis  a  little  too  loud 

Of  this  all  are  quite  sure. 

You  will  never  Seymour 

Of  true  pleasure  and  Bliss, 
For  a  Wit-more  of  humor 

We  challenge  the  world. 

E*,When  other  tables  less  favored  needed  an  infusion  of  life,  or 
when  a  number  of  new  students  fell  together  and  needed  attention, 
Mrs.  Cowles,  who  was  then  in  charge,  would  come  to  the  table  and 
ask :  "Who  is  willing  to  go  and  "do  missionary  work?"  Which  meant 
leaving  all  the  arrayed  associations  to  sit  with  strangers,  or  with 
less-favored  ones,  and  the  call  was  always  cheerfully  acceded  to. 


About  1836  and  for  some  years  after,  the  condition  of  entering 
the  boarding  hall  was  the  performing  daily  of  at  least  two  hours' 
labor  of  some  kind.  Besides  the  work  in  the  dining-room  and  kitchen, 
the  young  ladies  washed  the  clothes  of  the  gentlemen  boarders. 
These  clothes  would  be  brought  in  bundles,  and  placed  in  boxes 
provided  for  them.  After  they  were  done  up  they  would  be  replaced 
with  a  paper  attached  containing  a  list  of  the  articles,  and  the 
owners  would  pick  out  their  property.  The  gentlemen  paid  their 
steward  for  the  work,  and  the  ladies1  steward  allowed  so  much  to 
the  girls  for  their  labor.  As  the  clothes  were  not  marked,  no  one 
bundle  was  supposed  to  be  distinguished  from  another;  but  ro- 
mance could  find  a  place  even  in  such  homely  matters. 

The  girls  could,  often  be  seen,  greatly  flushed,  fumbling  among 
the  boxes  for  particular  bundles,  and  somehow  or  other,  generally 
dug  up  their  lover's  clothes,  preparatory,  as  one  who  was  of  their 
number  told  us,  to  always  caring  for  them  after  graduation. 

Think  of  the  simplicity  of  those  days!  When  a  young  lady 
would  be  seen  darning  a  pair  of  stockings  very  carefully,  and  some- 
one remarking  upon  it,  would  be  told  :  "  Oh,  those  are  Mr.  So-and- 
So's  stockings." 


84  OBERLINIANA. 

After  the  completion  of  the  first  Ladies'  Hall,  in  1855,  the  prices 
paid  for  work  were'  common  work,  three  cents  an  hour:  cooking, 
four  cents  an  hour.  Board  cost  the  ladies  seventy-five  cents  a  week, 
and  included  a  room.  The  lower  part  of  this  new  hall  was  used  for 
domestic  purposes.  The  second  story  was  appropriated  to  the  lady 
boarders,  and  the  third  story  was  used  by  the  young  men  for  a  year 
after  the  erection  of  the  building.  Different  stairways  were  used 
in  going  to  the  different  floors.  There  were  no  table-cloths  in  the 
dining-room  at  the  first;  the  wood  was  stained.  The  tumblers  and 
spoons  were  of  pewter  and  the  ware  was  blue-rimmed.  This  con- 
dition existed  for  perhaps  three  or  four  years  when  the  pewter  dis- 
appeared and  table-cloths  were  provided.  The  change  wonderfully 
pleased  the  students,  who  thought  they  were  coming  up  in  the  world. 


The  President  of  a  well  known  Western  college,  a  member  of  the 
class  of  '59,  during  his  theological  course  at  Oberlin,  fell  in  love 
with  a  young  lady  of  the  institution,  and  his  method  of  proposing 
is  thus  related  b}r  one  of  his  classmates,  well  known  to  the  Oberlin 
world:  "  As  he  was  walking  with  me  one  day  he  suddenly  said:  'I'll 
propose  to  a  young  lady  to-night  if  you  will.1  Thinking  that  he 
was  joking,  I  said  'I'll  do  it.'  We  both  went  to  call  that  evening, 
but  his  lady  happened  to  be  engaged,  so  next  day  he  wrote  her  a 

note  about  as  follows:  '  Dear  Miss :  I  have  to  teach  a  class  in 

Greek  this  afternoon,  and  my  mind  is  so  full  of  unrest  that  I  cannot 
teach  successfully,  in  fact  I  cannot  teach  at  all,  unless  you  promise 
to  marry  me.  My  success  or  failure  depends  upon  your  answer.' 
The  answer  came  and  was  as  follows :  '  You  may  teach  your  class.' 
And  so  they  were  married."  May  the  same  success  attend  all  good 
Oberlin  bovs  now  and  evermore. 


In  strong  contrast  to  the  above  is  the  following: 

A  certain  member  of  the  class  of  1842,  noted  for  his  matter-of- 
fact  manner,  one  day  became  impressed  with  the  idea  that  he  ought 
to  get  married.  Being  quite  well  acquainted  with  a  young  lady 
then  boarding  at  President  Finney's,  he  called  upon  her  one  evening, 
and  without  any  circumlocution  proffered  his  request.  The  lady 
informed  him  with  thanks  that  she  was  already  engaged  to  another. 
After  cogitating  for  a  moment  the  suitor  remarked:  "  Well,  do  }Tou 
know  of  any  young  lady  about  your  disposition  and  as  good  looking, 
whom  I  could  marry?" 

"  I  do  not  think  that  my  sister  is  engaged,  and  she  is  certainly  as 
accomplished  as  I  am,"  was  the  reply. 


■ 


OBERLIN  ROMANCE.  85 

wi  Will  you  introduce  me  to  her?"  asked  our  friend.  The  intro- 
duction followed,  and  in  a  very  short  time  the  question  asked  the 
sister  was  repeated  and  favorably  answered. 

The  mention  of  "  Mrs  Crosby's  flower  garden"  will  recall  many  a 
pleasant  occasion  to  the  older  alumni.  For  quite  a  number  of  }^ears 
following  the  college  "beginnings1'  there  were  very  few  rules.  Rules 
were  not  needed.  The  students  came  together  to  work.  But  even 
in  this  company  banded  together  for  earnest  labor  to  the  highest 
ends,  some  sentiment  appeared.  The  young  men  could  walk  at  any 
time  with  the  ladies  if  they  so  desired,  but,  as  we  have  stated  else- 
where, there  was  little  room  or  opportunity  for  courting.  About 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  boarding  hall  lived  some  of  those 
kindly  affectioned  people  who  can  appreciate  young  people's  needs. 
.About  this  house  was  a  garden  with  winding  walks  and  pleasant 
shade.  And  a  lady,  whom  we  imagine  perhaps  herself  once  knew 
the  spot  well,  told  us  that  here  the  lovers  would  wander  to  whisper 
sweet  nothings.     And  man}'  were  the  tales  which  the  flowers  would 

have  told  could  they  but  have  spoken. 

* 

Misunderstood  and  falsified  by  the  world  the  Oberlin  people  were 
obliged  to  stand  alone.  *They  prided  themselves,  as  rightly  they 
could,  on  being  a  peculiar  people.  The  students  believed  that  there 
was  nobody  outside  of  Oberlin  lit  for  them  to  mate  with.  Their 
aims  were  superior  to  those  of  the  rest  of  the  world.  Hence  there 
were  a  great  many  marriages  every  Commencement  time.  The 
young  men  were  obliged  to  go  directly  to  their  fields  of  labor,  and 
with  their  wives  begin  their  lifetime  work,  and  often  to  save  ex- 
pense several  couples  would  be  married  by  the  President  at  the 
same  time. 


* 


We  introduce  the  story  below  in  this  chapter  because,  in  the  first 
place  the  scene  is  laid  at  Ladies'  Hall — but  as  that  is  reason  enough 
we  need  not  give  the  other  reasons. 

About  the  year  1837  or  1838  it  became  customary  to  provide  a 
bowl  of  sweetened  cream  for  supper,  for  every  six  students.  This 
cream  was  placed  in  the  center  of  a  table  and  then  passed  around, 
each  hungry  youth  pouring  a  few.  spoonfuls  on  his  bread.  One  day 
an  old  farmer  came  to  visit  his  son.  He  was  given  a  seat  at  table 
to  partake  with  his  heir  of  the  evening  meal.  After  grace  had  been 
said,  the  father,  beholding  a  bowl  before  him,  took  it  upon  his  plate 
and  began  crumbling  his  bread  into  it.    The  terrified  son,  touching 


86  OBERLINIANA. 

him  upon  the  arm,  whispered:  "Father,  that's  sweetened  cream. 
"Hike  it  all  the  better  for  that,"  was  the  cheerful  answer,  as  the 
bread  continued  to  fall  into  the  bowl.  Looking  np  a  moment  later, 
however,  he  saw  the  surrounding  students  silently  crunching  their 
dry  bread  without  any  addition  whatever.  The  horrible  truth 
dawned  upon  him,  but,  being  a  cool  man,  he  merely  went  on  crum- 
bling his  bread  in  the  sweetened  cream,  and  then — ate  it. 

The  following  was  obtained  from  Mose  Huston,  for  so  many  years 
head  cook  at  Ladies'  Hall. 

About  the  year  1872  a  gentleman  interested  in  Oberlin  stopped 
to  investigate  the  workings  of  the  college,  and  showed  especial  at- 
tention to  the  self-supporting  system.  Visiting  Ladies'  Hall  he 
offered  ten  dollars  to  any  young  lady  who  would  saw  a  cord  of  four- 
foot  wood,  each  stick  to  be  cut  twice.  Quite  a  number  went  at  the 
work  energetically,  but  only  one  had  the  determination  and  strength 
necessary  to  complete  the  task,  and  to  her  the  reward  so  peculiarly 
offered  was  paid. 

*  * 

A  graduate  of '41  says:  "Atone  time  during  my  course  the 
gate  which  led  to  Tappan  Hall  was  very  noisy.  A  certain  lady 
friend  of  mine  could  look  from  her  window  and  both  see  and  hear 
the  gate.  Whenever  I  wished  to  meet  her  in  the  Ladies'  room  I 
gave  the  gate  a  special  creak  as  I  passed  through  at  the  same  time 
touching  my  hat,  and,  lo!  when  I  arrived  she  was  in  the  room.  I 
did  not  have  to  send  for  her.     It  was  an  agreeable  mystery." 


Some  later  students  will  recognize  this  incident.  Two  of  Ober- 
lin' s  young  men  were  calling  on  New  Year's  day.  As  they  were 
leaving  a  certain  house  the  ladies  offered  them  wine  glasses  filled 
with  what  looked  like  something  which  the  Scripture  saith  "  mak- 
eth  glad  the  heart  of  man."  One  of  the  young  men,  with  some  sur- 
prise, quietly  but  calmly  refused.  The  other  thought  of  his  tem- 
perance pledge  and  of  the  badge  under  the  lappel  of  his  coat,  then 
looked  at  the  glass  and  at  the  bright  smile  of  the  one  who  offered 
the  glass,  and  smothering  his  conscience  drank — cold  tea.  Each  of 
them  said  the  joke  was  on  the  other,  and  the  ladies  did  not  think 
that  either  of  them  ever  had  a  dangerous  acquaintance  with   wine. 


A  story  has  gone  the  rounds   about   Oberlin  which  is  given  for 
what  it  is  worth.    As  it  is  the  part  of  faithful  historians  to  convince 


OBERLIN  ROMANCE.  87 

themselves  of  the  authenticity  of  a  story,  and  then  repudiate  it 
editorially  providing  the  verdict  is  unfavorable  and  it  is  thought 
best,  nevertheless,  to  allude  to  it,  so  we,  after  turning  the  calcium 
light  of  investigation  upon  this  tradition,  are  obliged  to  add  reluct- 
antly that  it  sounds  like  the  wicked  fabrication  of  an  enemy. 

Mrs.  Stewart,  in  addressing  the  young  ladies  on  the  subject  of 
etiquette,  was  wont  to  urge  upon  them  the  propriety  of  having  at 
least  one  chair  between  them  and  any  gentleman  caller  who  might 
solicit  the  pleasure  of  an  evening  interview  in  the  reception-room 
in  the  Ladies'  Hall.  She  gave  the  same  general  instructions  as  to 
the  distance  which  should  intervene  between  ladies  and  gentleman 
at  the  table  in  the  boarding  hall.  It  is  related  that  one  evening- 
she  was  horrified  upon  entering  the  reception-room  to  discover  a 
lady  and  gentleman  in  the  twilight,  practically  occupying  the  same 
chair. 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  with  all  the  dignity  which  her  amazement  ren- 
dered possible,  "do  you  understand  how  you.  are  compromising  this 
young  lady  by  leading  her  to  violate  the  rules?" 

"Ye — ye — yes  ma'am,"  stammered  the  no  less  startled  youth; 
"  but  we  were  only  following  out  your  instructions." 

"  How  is  that?"  inquired  the  still  more  astonished  matron. 

"You  said  that  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  should  have  but  one 
chair  between  them !" 


A  charming  incident  is  told  by  Professor  Churchill.  When  he 
was  at  Dartmouth  College  he  became  acquainted  with  a  former 
Oberlin  student,  who  intended  some  clay  to  return  to  his  Western 
home.  For  a  long  time  they  "chummed"  a  good  deal.  Being  out 
walking  one  day,  as  they  passed  by  the  hotel,  the  Oberlin  youth  ex- 
claimed: "  Hold  on!  I  see  some  one  I  know,"  and  rushed  in  at  the 
door.  After  waiting  some  time,  his  friend  passed  on.  Next  day, 
as  his  chum  had  not  appeared  he  began  to  search  for  him,  but  could 
find  no  trace.  For  two  whole  days  sorrowing  search  met  no  success, 
but  then  the  mystery  was  cleared  up.  A  young  lady,  one  of  Ober- 
lin's  poets,  was  very  much  in  love  with  the  absent  student,  and  had 
been  led  by  her  devotion  to  seek  him  out.  Her  modesty  had 
prevented  her  from  calling  on  him  after  her  arrival,  and  so  she  had 
taken  her  place  in  the  hotel  and  had  been  waiting  for  some  time  to 

obtain  his  notice.     The  finale  was  the  usual  happ}^  one. 

* 
*  * 

The  following  incident  partakes  of  the  tragic.  A  student  in  the 
classical  course  many  years  ago,  belonging  to  the  same  Oberlin  class 
as  the  Dartmouth  man  alluded  to,  found  his  addresses  rejected  by  a 


88  OBERLINIANA, 

young  lad}'.  His  passion  had  become  such  a  part  of  his  life  that 
after  his  refusal,  in  order  to  end  his  trouble  he  took  a  quantity  of 
laudanum.  The  action  of  the  physicians  saved  him  from  death,  and 
the  lady,  softened  by  his  terrible  earnestness,  relented  and  accepted 
him. 


Until  within  recent  years  a  long  winter  vacation  of  twelve  weeks 
was  granted  the  students  in  order  that  they  might  go  out  and  teach. 
This  chapter  would  not  be  complete  without  a  reference  to  the  self- 
denying  labor  performed  by  so  many  hundreds  of  our  graduates, 
who  often  found  in  it  their  only  means  of  support.  One  of  our 
present  theological  professors  (and  his  experience  was  but  that  of 
many)  told  us  a  story  of  endurance  which  reminds  one  of  the  hero- 
ism of  the  early  "  circuit-riders.'1  In  the  winter  of  1858  he 
started  on  foot  for  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  Reaching  Colum- 
bus he  found  himself  with  but  two  dollars  in  his  pocket  and  a  num- 
ber of  miles  from  his  destination.  Shouldering  his  trunk,  he  started 
out,  and  after  many  hardships  arrived  at  his  destination,  only  to 
discover  that  he  was  not  wanted.  His  being  an  Oberlin  man  was 
probably  the  reason.  After  resting  a  day  or  two  at  the  house  of  a 
good  Christian  woman,  he  started  off  without  his  trunk  to  visit  a 
classmate  who  was  teaching  at  a  place  fifty  miles  away.  It  was  the 
middle  of  winter  and  the  roads  were  full  of  snow  and  ice.  Streams 
were  high  and  often  impassible.  Twice  was  he  compelled  to  wade 
through  deep  water,  and  once  was  completely  drenched  by  slipping 
from  a  log  into  a  stream.  Courage  prevailed  at  last,  and  not  only 
was  his  classmate  met,  but  a  school  was  found  where  he  could 
teach.  He  returned  for  his  trunk  on  horseback,  and  carried  it  back 
before  him  on  the  saddle,  only  after  many  a  fall  into  the  mud  and 
ice. 

This  is  but  a  single  example  of  what  Oberlin  College  men 
used  to  go  through  in  their  earnestness  to  obtain  an  educa- 
tion. And  that  spirit  is  still  alive,  and  manifests  itself  when  occa- 
sion demands  it  even  to-day. 


One  of  the  editors  of  Oberliniana  used  to  mop  the  floors  in 
Ladies'  Hall.  The  other  was  for  a  long  time  a  waiter  in  the  dining- 
room.  And  as  this  thought  came  to  us  during  our  writing,  our  pen 
stopped  for  a  moment,  and  we  leaned  back  in  our  chair  and  allowed 
memories  of  those  former  days  to  interrupt  our  work.  How  many 
of  our  alumni  have  worn  the  white  jackets  and  aprons!  How  many 
in  these  later  years  stood  each  day  before  kindly   "  Mose,"  in  the 


OBERLIN  ROMANCE.  89 

kitchen  —  Mose,  who  with  lordly  air  dispensed  the  meats  designed 
for  the  waiting  boarders!  To  many  the  mention  of  the  "pastry- 
cook," "cook-shop"  and  "milk  cellar"  will  bring  up  vivid  scenes 
of  former  days.     Yes,  many  a 

"Senior  and  Tutor  and  Soph., 

And  Junior  and  Freshman  and  Prof.," 
have  laid  aside  their  pride  and   performed  every  kind  of  service  in 
that  old  dining  room. 

The  tale  next  recorded  certainly  contains  romance  enough  for  the 
entire  chapter.  Two  facts  connected  with  it  make  it  of  undoubted 
interest.  First,  the  hero  was  for  a  long  time  Professor  in  the  college. 
Second,  the  story  is  strictly  true.  Well  then,  once-upon-a-time,  in 
the  very  early  days,  when  the  houses  were  few  and  room  could 
scarcely  be  found  to  accommodate  the  college  family,  our  Professor 
fell  in  love;  very  violently  in  love.  It  is  recorded  that  after  Chapel 
prayers,  almost  before  the  "Amen"  had  been  uttered  he  would  grasp 
his  hat  and  hasten  to  the  door  that  he  might  accompany  the  chosen 
one  homeward.  But,  alas,  in  those  days,  such  things  could  not  be 
hidden.  Rooms  were  small  and  students  were  everywhere.  There 
was  no  place  for  telling  secrets;  no  quiet  parlors;  no  back  gates; 
no  walks.  Oberlin  was  still  experiencing  the  age  of  mud.  And,  if 
we  may  believe  the  chronicles,  the  unbroken  forest  all  about  was 
full  of  ravenous  beasts  ready  to  devour  any  strolling  Pyramus  and 
Thisbe.  So  our  hero  and  lady  were  obliged  to  seek,  as  the  sole  and 
only  refuge,  the  pantry  in  which  to  whisper  sweet  nothings.  But 
the  course  of  true  love  did  not  run  any  smoother  with  our  Professor 
than  it  does  with  ordinary  people,  for,  not  being  a  politic  man,  he 
had  the  misfortune  to  anger  the  maiden.  Sad  was  the  day  when 
she  refused  to  see  him.  Life  became  a  blank.  As  he  could  not 
plead  personally,  in  his  desperation  he  appealed  to  some  lady 
friends;  stated  the  case;  requested  them  to  make  overtures  for  a 
return  of  favor.  If  they  were  successful  they  were  to  display  a 
handkerchief  from  the  window  where  the  displeased  one  lived. 
Long  and  earnest  was  the  conference.  Restlessly  did  the  gentleman 
pace  up  and  down  in  the  distance  eagerly  scanning  the  house.  At 
last,  when  hope  was  almost  given  over,  the  glorious  signal  was 
given.  The  community  rejoiced  with  them  over  the  re-establish- 
ment of  harmony,  and  in  due  time  they  were  married. 

*  * 

Our  college  would  have  been  wealthier  by  $75,000  but  for  an  unfor- 
tunate lack  of  faith  on  the  part  of  the  trustees  in  the  early  days. 
Mr.  P.  P.  Stewart,  when  worth  only  $10,000,  but  looking  forward  to 


90  OBERLINIANA. 

great  prosperity  J  gave  his  note  to  the  college  for  a  gift  of  $75,000, 
Shortly  afterwards  needing  some  help  in  his  business  he  asked  the 
college  to  lend  him  some  money.  They  replied  that  they  couldn't 
lend  any  money  but  that  they  would  sell  him  his  note  for  $75. 
Mr  Stewart  being  provoked,  took  up  their  otter.  If  after  }rears  he 
became  abundantly  able  to  fulfill  his  former  desire,  but  never  ottered 
to  do  so. 


The  following  was  taken  from  the  Oberlin  Evangelist  for  May. 
1846: 

"  Robert  St.  John  was  a  student  who  died  in  1834,  early  in  the 
history  of  the  settlement.  His  was  the  first  burial,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  infant  or  more,  in  the  place  designed  for  a  burial  ground. 
This  was  the  first  death  among  the  students,  the  first  among  the 
adult  population.  He  was  buried  at  the  setting  of  the  sun,  in  un- 
cleared and  unenclosed  ground,  all  of  which  tended  to  make  a  scene, 
of  solemn  interest,  and  fasten  upon  the  minds  of  those  who  partici- 
pated in  it,  impressions  never  to  be  forgotten.  But  Robert  St.  John's 
is  no  longer  a  lone  grave,  for  marble  slabs  and  monuments  have 
multiplied  about  it  every  year." 

-X-  -X- 

About  the  year  1843,  the  rule  was  still  in  force  which  prohibited 
students  of  different  sexes  from  visiting  each  other  at  their  rooms, 
no'matter  what  the  circumstances — a  rule  which,  properly  modified, 
still  exists. 

A  certain  young  lady,  boarding  at  the  Hall  at  the  time  of  which 
we  speak,  happened  to  be  very  sick.  She  was  engaged  to  a  younj 
man  whose  duty  it  was  to  carry  wood  to  the  various  floors  of  the 
building.  Some  lady  friends  of  the  parties,  acquainted  with  the 
state  of  affairs,  strongly  advised  the  gentleman  to  visit  his  affianced.! 
He  was  persuaded  so  to  do,  and  in  consequence  all  concerned  were, 
expelled  from  college.  So  determined  were  the  Faculty  to  avoid 
even  the  veriest  appearance  of  insubordination. 

■X- 
-X-  # 

Up  to  the  year  1858  the  ladies  who  graduated  from  the  classical 
course  were  not  allowed  to  read  their  own  essays,  but  a  quiet  Quaker 
lady,  afterwards  Mrs.  Dr.  Cravath,  who  graduated  that  year,besought 
the  Faculty  for  the  privilege.  The  request  was  not  granted  without 
an  appeal  to  tears,  but  after  that  the  practice  was  changed. 

-X-  * 

The  college  buildings  are  so  closely  grouped  together  that  the 
walks  to  and  from  them  are  necessarily  short.      Particularly  so  to 


OBERLIN  ROMANCE.  91 

he  student  who  is  taking  advantage  of  the  limited  privileges  with 
espect  to  walking  with  young  ladies.  In  consequence,  the  walk  of 
,  few  rods,  say  from  choir  meeting  to  Ladies1  Hall  must  be  made  to 
qual  a  longer  one,  if  possible,  and  this  can  only  be  accomplished 
iy  taking  time,  for  no  turns  to  right  or  left  are  allowable.  Hence 
Las  arisen  that  slowest  of  all  movements  called  the  "  Oberlin  step." 
foung  people  have  been  known  to  consume  fully  three  minutes  in 
rossing  a  single  flag-stone,  and  the  progress  of  a  procession  of 
tudents  returning  from  some  entertainment  resembles  the  growth 
f  the  grass.  You  know  it  is  moving,  but  the  movement  is  imper- 
eptible. 
This  idyllic  habit  is  very  properly  deprecated  by  the  authorities. 


Until  the  year  1844  or  1845  it  was  customary  for  the  Professor  to 
ead  all  the  graduation  essays  of  the  Literary  students  on  Commence- 
aent  day,  the  Faculty  holding  that  it  would  be  undignified  and 
mmodest  for  the  ladies  to  deliver  their  productions  from  the  ros- 
rum.  During  one  of  the  years  mentioned,  however,  the  entire 
;raduating  class  of  ladies  informed  the  Faculty,  with  all  due  respect, 
hat  they  would  not  graduate  unless  they  were  permitted  to  present 
heir  essays  themselves.  This  determined  stand  had  the  desired 
flfect,  and  ever  thereafter  the  right  was  granted. 

The  class  of  '41  had  the  first  "Lady  A.  B.'s"  of  the  literary 
rorld,  and  they  deserved  it.  It  had  workers  who  earned  their  ex- 
tenses  by  honest  work,  and  others  who  "worked  not  at  all,"  but 
ook  the  patronage  of  "aid."     Thus  men  differ. 

What  one  of  the  Alumni  has  not  at  some  time  made  a  eall  at 
iadies'  Hall?  With  what  trepidation  did  he  ascend  the  front  steps 
nd  give  his  card  to  the  bell-boy,  while  groups  of  girls  were  passing 
a  and  out.  Why  should  so  many  know  of  his  private  affairs?  Why 
ouldn't  he  pay  a  visit  to  a  young  lady  without  its  being  advertised? 
'he  lady  comes.  The  parlor  isentered.  No  bay-windows  or  hid- 
en  angles.  And  others  are  there  too.  It  seems  as  if  everyone 
mst  hear  your  remarks  about  the  climate.  Finally  you  succeed  in 
ecoming  oblivious  to  all  externals,  when  suddenly  the  ominous 
hapel  bell  peals  forth  and  a  moment  after  all  is  deserted. 

* 
*  # 

Even  in  these  latter  days  the  Hall  has  its  terrors  to  the  unini- 
ated.  The  gentleman  belonged  to  the  class  of '81,  and  we  shall 
ill  him  Mr.  Age.     Toward  the  close  of  his  long  course  he   deter- 


92  0BERL1NIANA. 

mined  to   make  a  call  on  a  lady  friend  at  the  place  mentioned 
thing  never  before  attempted  by  him.     A  classmate  whom  we  sha 
call   Olton,  encouraged  him  in  the  hazardous  enterprise  and  wi 
nessed  has  departure  at  the  proper  hour.     After   walking  aroun 
the  Square  Mr.  Age  proceeded  to  the  Hall,  and  as  he  ascended  th< 
steps  imagined  that  his  neck-tie  was  awry  and  returned  to  Oltonl 
room  for  assistance.     The   aid  and  encouragement  were  given  anli 
again  the  gentleman  traversed  the  Square.     Again  his  destination 
was  reached  and  was  carefully  surveyed  from  all  sides.     Again  thj  | 
dreadful  door  was  reached.     Mustering  up  all  his  courage  he  seizec 
the  bell  and  entered  just  as  the  fateful  outside  bell  called  theladie 
to  their  rooms. 


It  may  not  be  generally  known  how  near  Oberlin  College  came 
being  situated  at  Brownhelm.    Mrs.  Perry,  of  that  place,  related  tt 
following  incident  to  Professor  Churchill:     Just  after  the  buildin 
of  Tappan  Hall  in  1835,  Mr.  Tappan  came  out  from  New  York  I 
pay  Oberlin  a  visit,  and  going    to  Brownhelm  was  favorably  in 
pressed  with  the  rolling  ground  and  pretty  scenery  of  the  "  ridge, 
which   was  part  of  Mrs.   Perry's  farm.     He  found   that  the  plaj 
could  be  purchased  for  $2,000,  and  accordingly  negotiated  for  i 
purchase.     His  intention  was  to  buy  land  enough  to  exchange  f< 
the  Oberlin  property.     Everyone  who  owned  a  lot  in  Oberlin  was 
receive  a  fair  equivalent  at  Brownhelm,  and  the  college,  which  wi 
not  yet  thoroughly  established,  was  to  be  removed  to  the  bett< 
place.    Mr.  Tappan  returned  East  to  make  out  the  necessary  paper 
but  arrived  only  to  find  that  the  great  crash  had  come  and  left  hi 
almost  penniless. 

*  * 

The   following   poem    appeared    first  in  the   "  Oberlin  Studen 
Monthly,"  for  July,  1859.     Its  appearance  there  is  sufficient   gui 
antee  of  its  merit.     We  hesitated  as  to  whether  we  should  place 
with  the  other  poems,  or  in  this  chapter.     But  the  appropriate 
calized  sentiment  contained,  and  fate  of  the  author,  were  such  as 
recommend  it  for  its  present  position.     Its  author  was  Orlando 
Brockway,  of  the  class  of  1862.     He  enlisted  for  the  war  with  t 
other  Oberlin  boys  in  1861.     Was    commissioned   captain   in  Au 
ust,  1863,  and  was  killed    in  the  trenches  before   Petersburg,  Julj 
19th,  1864. 


OBERLIN  ROMANCE.  93 

BOTANIZING. 

When  the  trees  are  gemmed  with  buds, 

And  the  flowers  begin  their  blooming 
O'er  the  fields  and  through  the  woods, 

How  delightful  to  be  roaming! 
When  the  sun  is  getting  low, 

And  the  moon,  perchance,  is  rising, 
Did  you  ever  chance  to  go 
Botanizing? 

There's  a  flock  of  laughing  girls, 

Looking  all  about  their  neatest ; 
But  the  one  with  auburn  curls, 

Don't  you  think  she's  much  the  sweetest? 
There's  a  feeling  at  your  heart 

Indescribable,  arising, 

As  across  the  fields  you  start 
Botanizing. 

Far  from  where  the  carriage  whirls, 

Leads  your  way  across  the  heather; 
Now  yourself  and  auburn  curls 

Merest  chance  ( ?)  has  drawn  together. 
But  the  teacher  eyes  you  stern, 

(Just  as  if  'twas  quite  surprising) 
While  you  wander  o'er  the  fern, 

Botanizing. 
When  the  rest  are  left  behind 

By  a  step  so  much  the  fleetest, 
Did  it  ever  cross  your  mind 

Forest  flowers  are  far  the  sweetest? 
Then  along  the  woody  stream, 

Where  there's  no  one  supervising, 
O  !  'tis  joy  superb,  supreme, 
Botanizing ! 

Twine  her  hair  with  ivy  wreaths, 

Add,  perchance,  a  eprig  of  myrtle; 
Listen  to  the  words  .^he  breathes, 

Soft  as  any  mourning  turtle. 
Soon  the  light  begins  to  fade, 

And  the  stars  look  down,  advising, 
That  quite  long  enough  you've  staid 
Botanizing. 

Off  the  moss  you  now  must  rise 

And  your  steps  be  homeward  turning : 
Look  within  the  maiden's  eyes — 

Eyes  that  melt,  though  never  burning — 
Steals  your  arm  around  her  waist, 

Just  to  aid  the  nymph  in  rising; 
Oh  !   what  happiness  you  taste 
Botanizing:. 


94  OBERLINIANA. 

By  the  rest  you're  left  behind  • 

Long  ago  their  task  was  ended ; 
Certain  now  you'll  be  to  find 

The  teacher  mortally  offended ! 
But  don't  promise  not  to  do — 

Spite  of  all  the  sage  advising — 
Just  the  same,  next  time  you  go 
Botanizing. 

For  a  great,  great  many  years  it  has  been  customary,  for  those 
students  who  desired,  to  take  a  trip  to  the  lake  shore  on  the  day  fol  I 
lowing  Commencement.  Single  and  double  buggies,  band-wagons 
and  barouches  are  mustered  into  service  for  the  expedition,  and  i 
few  hours  of  perhaps  the  greatest  enjoyment  of  the  year  is  the  re- 
sult. We  would  like  to  dwell  upon  the  positive  pleasure  of  suet 
an  excursion  after  the  long  months  of  hard  work;  of  the  picnic 
lunch  eaten  on  the  high  banks  which  look  far  away  across  the 
water ;  of  the  rowing  over  the  in-rolling  waves ;  of  strolls  along  thd 
shore,  and  of  the  sunset,  when  with  lovliest  coloring  of  cloud  the 
crimson  orb  sinks  in  the  distant  lake;  of  the  moonlight  ride  home 

ward,  and  the however,  these  reveries  have  led   us    away  fron 

the  story  we  had  to  tell,  and  which    will  now    have  a  very   gloomy 
cast. 

A  student  was  engaged  to  a  certain  lady.   As  a  remarkable  excep- 
tion, he   was    exceedingly  penurious,  and  very  few  were  the  occas 
ions  upon  which  he  had  bestowed  any    attention   which    cost   any 
thing.     Commencement  was  approaching  and  many   of  the   young 
lady's  friends  were  invited  to   take    a   trip    to  the   lake.     She    was 
eager  to  go  but  had  no  invitation;  but   -at  .length   by    considerable 
strategy  she  persuaded  the  gentleman  to  whom  she  was  engaged  t( 
make  the  desired  request.     The  day  finally  came.    Boarding  at  th< 
Hall,  she  made  no  preparations  for  a  luncheon  and  neither  did    h 
Noon   came,  as  noons  will,  and  the  accompanying  parties  began  t 
prepare  for  dinner.     Seeing  that  something  must  be  done,  our   ga' 
lant  student  sought  out  a  farm-house  and  after  considerable  bicker 
ing  purchased  a  dried-apple  pie  as  a  repast  for  his  lady  and  himsel 
The  afternoon  passed.     The  ride  home  was    almost    finished,  whe: 
after  a  long  silence  he  said:  "  I  want  to  do  what's  right,  so  if  you'] 
pay  half  the  buggy  hire  I  won't  say  anything  about  the  cost  of  the 
pie." 

Next  day  the  lady  went  to  the  President  and  asked  if  she  was  ii 

duty  bound  to  marry  such  a  man.     She  was  told  that  she   was  not 

And  she  didn't. 

# 

There  are  two  things  which  ought  to    have    been    left    as    mom 
ments  of  early  Oberlin. 


OBERLIN  ROMANCE.  95 

One  of  these  has  already  succumbed  to  the  ruthless  destruction 
of  workmen  in  order  to  make  way  for  such  a  building  as  shall  meet 
the  demands  of  more  modern  scholarship.  Reference  is  had  to  the 
dear  old  Laboratory  that  nestled  among  the  locusts  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  Second  Church  Square.  It  is  only  with  the 
keenest  regret  that  many  people  can  view  the  necessity  (?)  which 
occasioned  its  demolishment.  It  was  such  a  little,  inoffensive 
building!  It  seems  as  if  there  ought  to  have  been  room  for  it  and 
the  other  hall  as  well.  How  delightfully  quaint  and  antique  it  was, 
with  the  old-fashioned  sky-light  in  the  roof,  the  woodbine  clamber- 
ing all  over  the  wall  and  hugging  the  who'e  building  closer  even- 
year,  the  lilac  bushes  at  the  doors  and  windows  tossing  their  foliage 
in  the  gentle  breeze  and  dispensing  their  bountiful  fragrance  with- 
in, and  the  tall  locusts  above,  showering  the  ground  every  spring 
with  their  wealth  of  perfumed  blossoms! 

The  pretty  picture  is  all  spoiled  now,  and  while  we  will  not  grum- 
ble at  anything  at  such  a  time  as  this,  it  is  very  sorrowfully  that 
we  sa}T  farewell  to  the  dear  old  building,  so  associated  with  tender 
memories. 

Let  us  turn  our  thoughts  instead  to  the  other  legacy,  that  grand 
)lcl  elm  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Tappan  Square,  which  we  still  have 
with  us.  Long  may  it  endure  the  blasts  of  winter,  and  long  sway  its 
najestic  boughs  in  summer.  It  still  has  the  prospect  of  a  long  ca- 
eer  before  it,  and  every  precaution  ought  to  be  taken  to  insure  its 
)resence  at  the  next  Jubilee  celebration,  fifty  years  hence,  in  perfect 
lealth.  To  this  end  it  should  be  protected  with  a  neat  iron  fence 
nd  accorded  all  the  honor  that  the  famous  elm  in  Boston  u('om- 
non"  so  long  enjoyed. 

A  tribute  has  been  paid  to  the  departed  Laboratory.  Eminently 
itting  is  it  that  old  "  Tappan  "  be  remembered.  Forty -eight  gener- 
itions  of  students  have  worked  upon  its  venerable  walls,  and  multi- 
udes  lived  within  its  narrow  halls.  Time  was  when  it  was  one  of 
he  finest  dormitories  in  the  State,  but  in  latter  years  the  walls  were 
earned  with  cracks,  the  floors  were  sunken,  the  partitions  were 
carped  and  the  plastering  had  fallen.  Still  the  students  clung  to  the 
ew  useful  rooms.  In  its  time  it  nourish ed  as  fond  hopes  and  as 
lapp}^  lives  as  ever  did  the  most  splendid  palace.  A  thousand  of 
>ur  graduates  look  back  to  it  with  love.  It  was  their  college  home, 
n  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  Australia,  South  America  and  the  Isles  of 
he  Sea,  they  may  be  found,  ministers,  lawyers,  physicians,  mis- 
ionaries,  authors.  Many  wearing  the  laurels  of  fame  and  honor; 
nany  governing  in  the  councils  of  the  nations;  many  giving  up  all, 


96  0BERL1NIANA. 

that  the  heathen  may  become  Christ's;  very  many  resting  forever 
from  their  labors.  What  a  history  those  crumbling  walls  could 
have  told  could  they  but  have  spoken!  How  many  hopeful  joyous 
souls  they  have  protected ;  how  many  aching  hearts !  How  many 
ringing  laughs  have  re-echoed  through  them,  and  how  many  hours 
of  sorrow  could  they  number.  There  ambitions  have  been  revolved! 
never  to  mature;  there  were  laid  the  foundations  for  future  success 
and  there  arose  the  prayers  of  faithful  hearts. 

Passing  away  in  the  jubilee  year  to  make  room  for  more  osten 
tatious  halls,  "  Tappan"  will  ever  hold  a  sacred  place  in  Oberlin's 
history,  for  kindly  and  faithfully  did  it  serve  its  day  and  genera- 
tion. 


CHAPTER  X. 

SKETCHES  OF  FORMER  STUDENTS. 

ALONG  in  1845-50  a  bright  young  man  might  have  been  ob- 
served almost  every  day  kneading  dough  in  a  great  breacl 
Jt  trough  in  the  "  cuisine  "  department  of  the  old  Ladies'  Hall. 
He  was  an  excellent  singer,  and  as  he  moulded. the  flaky 
mass  he  would  frequently  break  out  in  snatches  of  song. 
He  was  very  poor,  and  had  hard  work  to  get  along.  The  oldjl 
Greek  motto  to  the  effect  that  work  is  no  disgrace  always 
held  at  Oberlin,  and  where  is  there  a  member  of  the  great  Oberlin 
family  to-day  who  looks  back  with  mortification  at  the  honest  toil 
by  which  he  became  what  he  is? 

Yet  even  while  a  student  this  young  man  was  characterized  bj?\ 
that  remarkable  versatility  and  symmetry  of  character  which  have 
since  given  him  the  reputation  of  being  an  almost  ideal  man.  In 
the  departments  of  philosphy,  history,  and  the  natural  sciences  he 
was  quite  in  his  element,  being  a  profound  thinker  and  an  indefatij 
gable  student.  But  in  the  lighter  and  more  ornamental  branches! 
he  was  equally  proficient.  He  loved  flowers,  and  made  botany  a 
study  at  all  times.  He  was  a  splendid  penman.  He  would  make 
fancy  work,  tidies,  etc.,  that  would  bring  the  flush  of  envy  to  any 
girl's  cheek.  He  was  a  natural  singer.  He  was  well  acquainted 
with  nautical  language.  He  was  versed  in  the  practical  philosophy 
of  railroading.  In  fact  he  was  a  specialist  in  everything.  Refer- 
ence is  had  to  Hon.  J.  D.  Cox,  railroad  president,  distinguished 
military  leader  and  lawyer,  governor  of  the  Buckeye  State,  member  oi 
Giant's  Cabinet,  and  now  a  professor  in  the  Cincinnati  Law  School. 


SKETCHES  OP  FORMER  STUDENTS.  97 

Mr.  Cox  married  Mrs.  Cochran,  a  daughter  of  President  Finney, 
and  then  the  widow  of  Professor  Cochran.  For  a  time  they  con- 
tinued to  live  in  Mr.  Finney's  house,  but  afterwards  moved  to  War- 
ren, O.,  where  he  struggled  to  secure  legal  practice.  They  were  ex- 
ceedingly poor  at  first,  and  for  several  years,  despite  his  brilliant 
talents,  the  struggle  was  a  stern  one. 

Mr.  Cox  is  such  a  man  as  deserves  political  preferment.  No  man's 
record  was  ever  more  conspicuously  pure.  But  he  seems  to  be  en- 
tirely estranged  from  politics  now,  and  would  doubtless  refuse  to 
sacrifice  his  present  quiet,  happy  life. 


Just  prior  to  the  war  there  was  a  student  in  attendance  at  Ober- 
lin,  who  afterwards  graduated,  whom  the  traditions  affirm  to  have 
been  as  full  of  the  spirit  of  mischief  as  almost  any  youth.  Always 
faithful  in  his  college  duties,  and  conspicuous  by  reason  of  his  rare 
scholarship,  lie  was,  nevertheless,  possessed  of  an  infinite  fund  of 
humor.  He  it  was  who  engineered  so  successfully  the  memorable 
S.  S.  S.,  as  they  were  called, —  Sophomore  Sawdust  Seremonies  — 
an  account  of  which  is  given  elsewhere.  He  was  an  excellent 
artist,  and  loved  to  caricature.  Thus  his  "classics"  were  inter- 
lined with  comical  representations  of  Plato,  Gorgias,  Demosthenes 
and  other  ancient  worthies.  In  his  "  Prep."  years  he  helped  get  out 
the  Semi-Monthly  Thunderbolt,  a  sheet  executed  entirely  with  a 
pen,  and  copiously  illustrated  by  means  of  his  ready  art.  In  this 
paper  he  assumed  to  belong  to  the  "  Big  Fry,"  and  would  tell  of 
tricks  on  the  "  Small  Fry." 

That  youth  was  called  Fred  Allen.  He  is  now  the  sedate  and 
dignified  Professor  Allen,  of  the  chair  of  comparative  philology,  in 
Harvard  Universitv. 


At  one  time  chess  and  checkers  were  prohibited  at  Oberlin. 
During  this  period  Levi  F.  Bander,  subsequently  Auditor  of  Cuya- 
hoga county  for  two  terms,  was  a  student  in  theinstitution.  Being 
exceedingly  fond  of  the  former  game,  Mr.  Bauder  found  it 
quite  inconvenient  to  forego  the  pleasure  of  an  occasional  game, 
and  accordingly  indulged  in  the  forbidden  fruit  at  his  discretion, 
until  he  was  "  hauled  up"  before  the  Faculty  for  the  offense.  When 
questioned  as  to  his  conduct  he  promptly  acknowledged  his  guilt 
and  added : 

"  But  let  me  understand  the  scope  of  this  rule.  Like  all  rules  I 
suppose  it  is  merely  a  means  to  an  end." 

"  Certainly,"  responded  the  examining  Professor;  "it  aims  at  the 


98  OBERLLNIANA. 

securing  of  a  proper  standard  of  scholarship.  Such  fascinating- 
games  have,  in  our  experience,  proved  distracting,  and  consumed 
time  that  belonged  to  regular  college  duties.  That  is  why  the  rule 
exists." 

u  Are  you  willing  to  judge  me  according  to  that  principle?" 

"  Certainly." 

"  Let  us  consult  the  records,  then.1' 

And  the  two  went  together  to  the  college  books,  only  to  find  that 

the  record  of  the  offender  was  a  clean  score  of  100.     Mr.   Bauder 

was  not  disciplined. 

* 

*  * 

A  student  who  had  plenty  of  money  to  spend  was  decidedly  a 
vara  avis  during  the  first  twenty  years  of  the  college's  history. 
Among  the  poorest  was  Elisha  Gray,  the  great  electrician  whose 
name  is  now  a  familiar  word  in  every  household.  No  great  man 
ever  evinced  during  his  college  days  less  of  the  stuff  that  was  in 
him  than  did  Elisha  Gray.  He  was  universally  accounted  by  his 
classmates  a  sleepy  student.  In  after  years  he  enjoyed  the  luxury 
of  informing  in  his  quiet  way  those  same  classmates  who  had  de- 
preciated him  in  school,  but  who  had  come  to  revere  him  most  pro- 
foundly, that  he  was  not  wholly  a  dreamer  as  he  sat  on  the  back 
seat  in  the  recitation  room;  but  that  he  was  maturing  in  his  mind 
at  that  very  time  many  of  the  discoveries  which  the  world  should 
some  day  take  occasion  to  call  great. 

When  Mr.  Gray  completed  his  Sophomore  year  his  health  gave 
completely  out,  and  he  was  obliged  to  forego  the  full  course  which 
he  had  purposed  to  take.  Accordingly  he  engaged  in  farming  pur- 
suits in  the  country  in  the  immediate  vicinit}^  of  Oberlin,  abandon- 
ing for  a  time  utterly,  all  scholastic  pursuits.  His  mind  was  still 
active,  however,  and  when  he  did  engage  in  study  he  had  free  ac- 
cess to  the  electrical  apparatus  of  the  college.  His  interest  in  scien- 
tific pursuits  was  thus  stimulated,  and  soon  his  proficiency  in  this 
department  became  quite  marked.  In  the  meantime  he  met,  loved 
and  married  an  Oberlin  girl,  and  the  two  together  continued  the 
stern  struggle  against  poverty.  His  wife  was  a  lady  of  considerable 
reserve,  but  withal  a  most  faithful  and  loving  helpmeet.  At  this 
time  Mr.  Gray  was  running  a  milk  farm,  and  every  morning  the 
future  great  scientist  might  be  seen  dispensing -the  lacteal  fluid  to 
his  round  of  purchasers.  No  doubt  he  was  still  dreaming  and 
dreaming! 

Mr.  Gray's  first  great  invention,  worked  out  here  in  Oberlin 
about  1806,  was  called  the  "  Self-adjusting  Relay."  It  was  an  in- 
strument  regulating    automatically   the  motions   of  the  telegraph 


SKETCHES  OF  FORMER  STUDENTS.  99> 

sounder.  Wires  are  made  more  perfect  now,  but  in  those  days  the 
transmission  of  messages  was  often  interrupted  for  a  considerable 
time  on  account  of  storms  and  unfavorable  weather.  Mr.  Gray 
overcame  this  defect  by  introducing  a  counteracting  battery,  thus 
causing  the  instrument  to  adjust  itself  to  all  kinds  of  weather. 

The  history  of  the  second  grand  triumph  of  his  life,  the  invention 
of  the  telephone,  is  now  generally  familiar.  Bell  and  Edison  were 
improvers  of  the  telephone,  and  as  such  deserve  due  honor;  but 
Elisha  Gray  will  justly  pass  into  history  as  the  genuine  inventor  of 
the  telephone.  Mr.  Bell,  by  a  blunder  received  a  patent  on  the 
invention  first;  but  the  production  of  Prof.  Gray's  caveat,  (filed 
nearly  a  year  previous)  soon  rendered  that  patent  null  and  void,  and 
vindicated  his  claim  as  inventor.  The  same  decision  awarded  him 
a  five  per  cent,  royalty  on  all  telephones  manufactured,  (if  he  did  not 
choose  to  monopolize  the  business  in  this  country.) 

Since  then,  decorated  with  the  enviable  titles  of  Doctor  of  Science, 
and  Chevalier  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  Professor  Gray  has  spent  his 
time  in  lecturing,  overseeing  his  business  at  the  East,  and  devoting 
his  spare  time  to  further  scientific  research.  His  latest  great  inven- 
tion is  the  wonderful  Harmonic  Multiplex  Telegraph,  by  means  of 
which  quite  a  number  of  messages  may  be  sent  over  the  same  wire 
at  the  same  time. 

Of  course,  the  great  popularity  of  the  telephone  is  now  yielding 
Mr.  Gray  an  enormous  revenue,  and  this  leads  to  the  subject  of  his 
benefactions.  He  is  a  remarkably  generous  man  and  is  constantly 
making  donations  to  worthy  objects.  He  has  pledged  to  Oberlin 
College  the  sum  of  $50,000.  With  the  church  he  is  actively  con- 
nected, and  finds  time  in  all  his  busy  life  for  the  cultivation  of  the 
gentler  virtues. 

In  the  year  1845  there  came  to  Oberlin  a  green  country  boy  of 
quite  uncouth  appearance  and  manners.  He  was  afflicted  with  the 
customary  emaciation  of  pocket-book,  and  sought  out  immediately 
a  position  as  chore-boy  in  one  of  the  families  in  town.  After  the 
hayseed  had  been  combed  out  of  his  hair  a  little,  he  presented  a  not 
unattractive  appearance,  and  proved  himself  possessed  of  average 
intelligence.  When  asked  for  his  name  upon  joining  the  institution 
he  responded,  "Ferdinand  V.  Hay  den."  The  name  did  not  create 
a  sensation  then,  for  it  had  yet  to  become  the  power  which  it  is  to- 
day. 

Hayden  did  not  create  any  sensation  of  any  kind,  in  fact,  while 
in  college.  Indeed,  he  was  conspicuously  poor  in  the  languages,  and 
his  final  graduation  was   a  conditioned  affair.     This  was   largely 


100  OBERLINIANA. 

because  he  made  a  specialist  of  himself  in  the  direction  of  geology 
and  the  sciences  in  which  he  has  since  become  so  famous. 

Professor  Penfield  relates  a  pleasant  account  of  the  way  in  which 
he  first  discovered  that  there  was  any  particular  metal  to  the  man. 
The  class  were  out  in  the  fields,  surveying,  possibly.  Prof.  Penfield 
was  a  good  deal  of  a  botanist,  and  general  attention  became  directed 
at  some  wild  flowers.  Young  Hayden  was  exceedingly  enthusiastic. 
Prof.  Penfield,  being  familiar  with  the  flora  of  Lorain  county,  made 
something  of  a  dissertation  on  the  plant  in  question,  which  aroused 
every  latent  faculty  in  the  listener.  Indeed,  the  latter  was  so  im- 
moderately enthusiastic  that  the  other  members  of  the  class  were 
rather  inclined  to  amuse  themselves  a  little  in  a  superior  way  over 
his  demonstrative  interest  in  "  common  weeds." 

The  incident  served  to  show  to  the  Professor  wherein  lay  the 
strength  of  the  young  man;  yet  even  then  none  of  the  Faculty 
seem  to  have  thought  that  he  would  attain  anything  specially 
worthy.  When  he  graduated  in  1850,  they  little  thought  that  they 
had  been  training  a  future  United  States  Geologist,  who  sjiould 
receive  more  honors  from  European  societies  than  any  other 
scientist  of  his  age.  A  few  years  ago  Prof.  Ellis  met  him  and  he 
took  occasion  to  remark  that  he  owed  everything  to  Oberlin.  Said 
he:  "Had  it  not  been  for  the  impulse  which  I  received  at  Oberlin  in 
the  direction  of  investigation,  I  should  be  driving  an  ox-team  to-day." 

* 

A  good  many  will  be  surprised  to  learn  that  Professor  Gunning, 
the  distinguished  evolutionist,  not  only  went  through  college  here, 
but  also  studied  in  the  Theological  Seminary.  There  has  alwaj^s 
been  a  suspicion  that  he  isn't  quite  sound  in  his  belief.  He  desires 
to  be  considered  a  theist,  and  it  is  said  that  he  believes  in  prayer. 
He  certainly  is  not  an  infidel,  and  seems  to  be  permeated  with  a 
good  deal  of  the  Oberlin  spirit.  He  was  looked  upon  as  a  Chris- 
tian while  a  theological  student.  He  is  a  thoroughly  sincere  man, 
a  warm  friend  of  the  college,  and  an  honored  alumnus. 

While  a  student  he  was  regarded  as  a  good  scholar.  He  was  also 
an  excellent  "  monthly  rhetorical  "  speaker,  and  a  successful  crayon 
artist.  This  facility  with  the  pencil  serves  him  well  now,  when  he 
has  occasion  in  his  lectures  to  represent  on  a  blackboard  the  abo- 
riginal chimpanzee. 

When  Mr.  Gunning  entered  college  he  was  assigned  to  a  class 
taught  by  Tutor  Hodge.  Looking  at  the  new  student,  the  latter 
enquired :     "  What  is  your  name,  sir?" 

"  Gunning,"  was  the  reply. 


SKETCHES  OF  FORMER  STUDENTS.  101 

"Gunning,  Gunning,"  repeated  Tutor  Hodge.  "Well,  be 
careful  that  you  don't  hang  lire." 

Mr.  Gunning  never  forgot  this  incident,  and  years  afterward 
when  delivering  his  lecture  on  the  "Descent  of  Man,"  he  was  in- 
vited to  a  college  where  his  old  instructor  happened  to  reside. 
During  the  course  of  his  remarks  before  a  crowded  house,  he  pro- 
ceeded, in  his  inimitable  way,  to  picture  on  the  blackboard  the 
hairy  progenitor  of  the  race,  and  after  completing  the  bod}',  with 
a  few  skillful  touches  crowned  the  whole  with  the  well-known 
lineaments  of  Tutor  Hodge! 

*  * 

Rev.  Miss  Anna  Oliver  has  created  a  good  deal  of  notoriety  for 
herself.  Recently  the  papers  contained  an  account  of  the  sale  of 
her  church,  the  Willoughby  Avenue  M.  E.  Church,  in  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y.  It  ma}'  be  interesting  to  the  Oberlin  public  to  learn  she  was 
once  a  student  at  this  institution.  It  must  be  owned  with  reluct- 
ance that  she  did  not  leave  a  very  favorable  record  behind  her.  She 
was  studying  theology  in  the  Seminary,  and  insisted  upon  enjoying 
every  privilege  accorded  her  male  confreres.  Among  the  rights 
claimed  was  the  right  to  join  the  theological  literary  society, — 
which  was  denied.  Miss  Oliver  felt  so  much  aggrieved  at  this  that 
she  terminated  her  connection  with  the  Seminar}', —  it  is  said,  to 
the  relief  of  some  members  of  the  Faculty.  Her  extreme  views 
were  not  in  harmony  with  the  general  sentiment  at  Oberlin,  and  her 
recollections  of  the  school  are  probably  otherwise  than  pleasant. 

*  * 

In  striking  contrast  was  the  conduct  of  that  other  exponent  of 
Woman's  Rights,  Lucy  Stone,  who  was  also  a  student  at  Oberlin. 
She  has  always  had  a  great  friendship  for  the  school,  and  though 
now  she  has  become  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  Woman's  Suf- 
frage movement  in  this  country,  and  the  able  editress  of  the  Woman's 
Journal,  she  always  makes  it  a  point  to  attent  the  alumni  meetings 
that  are  held  in  Boston.  She  was  a  bright,  lovable  girl,  and  de- 
veloped into  a  woman  whom  all  are  bound  to  respect  and  admire, 
whatever  their  views.  She  is  far  from  masculine  or  obtrusive  in 
her  waj's,  and  consequently  has  real  influence  in  the  cause  which 
she  has  championed.  In  every  way  except  legally,  however,  it  is 
said  that  she  insists  upon  being  Lucy  Stone,  instead  of  Lucy  Stone 
Black  well. 

*  * 

The  class  of  1847  was  quite  a  remarkable  class.  Besides  Lucy 
Stone  there  were  Antoinette  Brown,  (who  also  married  a  Blackwell,) 


102  OBERLINIANA. 

and  Lettice  Smith,  (afterwards  Mrs.  Prof.  Holmes,)  all  champions 
'of  the  same  general  principles.  None  of  them  were  rabid  or  unrea- 
sonable, and,  indeed,  we  are  obliged  to  concede  to-da}^  that  they 
have  been  vindicated  in  respect  to  some  of  the  views  which  they  en- 
tertained For  instance,  they  demanded  the  right  to  present  their 
essays  in  person  to  the  public  on  Commencement  day.  This  demand 
was  so  much  a  matter  of  principle  with  Miss  Stone  that  she  would 
not  write  an  essay  to  be  presented  by  proxy,  and  so  she  was  not 
represented  on  the  final  day. 

It  may  be  imagined  that  with  three  such  devoted  and  charming- 
advocates  of  a  cause  which  has  even  now  partially  triumphed,  all  in 
the  same  class,  there  were  many  warm  discussions  of  the  woman's 
rights  question.  On  the  other  side  were  Robert  Kedzie,  afterwards 
the  distinguished  chemist,  and  many  others,  especially  in  the  class- 
ical course.  With  Miss  Brown,  Miss  Stone  and  Miss  Smith  as 
leaders,  the  female  element  in  the  class  quite  generally  espoused  their 
side  of  the  question,  and  the  discussions,  involving  practically  the 
whole  class,  waxed  warm  and  eloquent.  Robert  Kedzie  was  so 
vigorous  and  caustic  in  declaiming  against  the  movement  inaugur- 
ated by  these  zealous  reformers,  that  he  actually  made  himself 
quite  unpopular  for  a  time  with  the  fair  sex,  and  finally  lost  the 
honor — justly  his — of  appearing  on  Comencement  day.  (At  that 
time  representatives  of  the  class  were  still  elected  to  Commence- 
ment honors.) 

It  may  be  interesting  to  many  to  learn  in  this  connection  that 
Miss  Brown  and  Miss  Smith  were  the  only  two  lady  students  who 
ever  took  the  complete  theological  course.  Antoinette  Brown  was 
an  earnest,  warm-hearted  girl,  and  sincerely  believed  that  she  had 
received  a  call  to  enter  the  ministry.  What  her  present  views  are, 
cannot  be  stated,  but  the  conservatism  of  churches  in  the  matter  of 
receiving  female  leaders  must  have  discouraged  her  somewhat.  Let- 
tice Smith  married  a  classmate  named  Holmes.  As  the  wife  of  an 
educator  she  has  doubtless  been  able  to  use  her  seminary  train- 
ing more  or  less.  Lucy  Stone  was  noted  for  her  largeness  of  heart; 
and  many  a  discouraged  lonely  student  found  in  her  a  warm  friend. 

* 

Judge  J.  E.  Ingersoll,  of  the  Ci^ahoga  county  bench,  was  prob- 
ably one  of  the  }^oungest  students,  if  not  the  }'Oungest,  that  ever 
went  through  Oberlin.  In  1841  he  entered  college  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years.  In  1845  he  graduated  at  the  mature  age  of  seven- 
teen years.  When  asked  what  arrangement  he  had  to  make  in  order 
to  pursue  a  course  while  so  young,  he  replied:  "  O,  nothing  was 
ever   said   to  me  officially  about  the  matter,  although  I  think  there 


SKETCHES  OF  FORMER  STUDENTS.  108 

was  some  rule  then  in  existence  on  the  subject.  I  rather  wish  that 
I  had  waited  a  few  years  longer,  for  while  I  understood  the  subjects 
I  studied,  it  was  of  course  impossible  to  assimilate  everything  I 
learned  as  I  might  nave  done  at  a  more  advanced  age,  and  as  I 
did  a  few  years  later  when  teaching  the  same  studies." 


It  was  Professor  Allen  who  gave  the  first  impulse  to  musical 
study  at  Oberlin.  He  led  the  great  choir  in  the  First  Church  al- 
most from  the  start,  and  left  a  marked  impression  upon  the  school 
in  the  direction  of  true  musical  culture.  It  would  be  pleasant  now 
if  he  could  look  in  upon  our  prosperous  Conservatory,  with  its  pros- 
pective grand  hall,  and  its  extensive  reputation.  He  should  also 
know  of  the  phenomenal  success  of  the  Glee  Club's  Western  tour  of 
last  spring.  As  this  tour  was  perhaps  the  most  successful  ever 
made  by  any  college  glee  club,  it  seems  just  that  it  should  be  men- 
tioned more  at  length.  Fifteen  musical  students  banded  together 
in  an  organization  made  up  as  follows:  First  tenors:  Prof.  Cham- 
berlain, E.G.  Sweet,  J.  D.  Harrisor,  John  At  ell ;  second  tenors  .-Win- 
field  Hatch,  D.  A.  Bunker,  F.  M.  Koons,  P.  C.  Hayden;  first  bass: 
F.  H.  Swift,  J.  Severance,  Arthur  Burt,  W.  F.  Dav;  second  bass: 
L.  P.  Hamilton,  John  Peck,  W.  Kimball,  Dan  Bradley. 

The  route  pursued  was  through  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin 
to  Minnesota,  and  back.  Almost  everywhere  the  singers  were  treated 
with  marked  attention,  banquets  and  receptions  being  tendered 
to  them  at  several  points.  At  Minneapolis  the  club  sang  in  concert 
with  Minnie  Hauk,  and  afterwards  with  Litta,  and  the  Amherst 
College  Glee  Club.  Wherever  they  spent  Sunday  they  were  impor- 
tuned to  lead  the  singing  and  willingly  consented,  thus  making  the 
services  peculiarly  interesting  and  impressive.  The  boys  made  a 
decided  hit  wherever  they  went,  and  although  their  stops  were  fre- 
quently fifteen,  and  even  eighteen  hours'  ride  apart,  and  their  ex- 
penses very  heav}7,  they  found  when  they  arrived  home  that  their 
experience  might  be  summed  up  in  the  following  gratifying  record: 
One  thousand  nine  hundred  miles  traversed,  thirteen  concerts  given 
in  five  different  States,' and  $1,161  made,  nearly  half  of  which  was  net 
profit;  a  great  many  western  sights  seen  and  friends  visited;  an 
alma  mater  widely  advertised,  and  the  members  themselves  honored 
in  a  conspicuous  way,  It  was  a  unique  and  profitable  mode  of 
spending  the  two  weeks'  interim  between  two  college  terms  of  study. 


John  M.  Langston,  the  distinguished  colored  orator  and  present 
United  States  consul  to  Hayti,  was  a  student  at  Oberlin.     Gradu- 


104  OBERLINIANA. 

ating  in  1849  he  went  to  Albany,  and  applied  for  admission  to  the 
celebrated  law  school  there.  As  there  was  a  rule  at  that  time  pro- 
hibiting the  admission  of  colored  students,  the  officers  of  the  school 
informed  him  that  the  only  way  in  which  he  could  pursue  his  educa- 
tion there  would  be  by  claiming  to  be  a  Cuban.*  This  he  was  too 
conscientious  to  do,  and  indignantly  returning  to  Oberlin,  went  into 
the  Theological  Seminary.  He  was  perhaps  the  only  student  per- 
mitted to  stud}7  theology  here  while  not  a  Christian.  Afterwards, 
however,  he  believed,  was  baptized  and  joined  the  church. 

Many  pleasant  stories  are  told  about  his  youthful  modesty  and 
timidity  while  here.  At  one  time  a  party  was  given  at  his  house  in 
town,  at  which  there  were  several  distinguished  guests  present. 
Young  Langston  insisted  upon  waiting  at  the  tables.  He  was  ex- 
postulated with  and  urged  to  sit  down  with  the  rest,  but  firmly 
refused  to  do  so.  Once  he  related  while  in  attendance  upon  an 
Alumni  meeting  here,  an  account  of  his  debut  in  the  literary  society 
to  which  he  belonged.  He  was  quite  dissatisfied  with  his  effort,  and 
went  home  when  society  was  out,  filled  with  discouragement.  Seek- 
ing the  privacy  of  his  own  room  he  threw  himself  upon  his  bed, 
buried  his  face  in  the  counterpane,  and  wept  as  though  his  heart 
would  break. 


If  an  Oberlin  student  is  helpless  when  turned  loose  upon  the 
world,  then  we  disown  him.  The  strength  of  character  and  perse- 
vering zeal  of  the  early  lady  students  is  illustrated  well  in  the  case 
of  Mrs.  Martha  Haskins  Pierce,  who  describes  her  coming  to  the 
colony  as  follows: 

"  I  was  one  of  the  first  students,  having  arrived  there  in  1834, 
four  months  after  the  school  opened,  accompanied  by  my  brother, 
who  read  the  notice  of  the  school  in  the  New  York  Evangelist. 
After  reading  of  this  opening  for  acquiring  an  education,  the  same 
evening  he  came  in  a  sleigh  some  seven  miles  to  where  I  was  teach- 
ing, bringing  the  paper.  He  said  he  was  going  in  the  spring  and 
wished  me  to  accompany  him.  I  told  him  I  would  go  if  my  parents 
were  willing.  He  wrote  me  in  a  few  days  that  my  father  was  not 
willing  to  have  me  go  so  far  from  home.  But  in  about  one  week 
when  I  came  home  as  usual  to  spend  the  Sabbath,  my  father  had 
concluded  to  consent  to  my  going.  Then  we  made  ourselves  ready 
and  started  on  what  seemed  to  many  of  our  friends,  a  long  and 
perilous  journey.  When  we  arrived  at  Cleveland,  we  hired  a  man 
Avith  a  strong  team  to  take  us  to  Oberlin.  After  leaving  Elyria,  as 
the  driver  came  to  the  corduroy  railroads,  he  began  to  rebel.  When 
we  were  to  leave  the  main  road  some  two  miles  from  Oberlin,  he 


SKETCHES  OF  FORMER  STUDENTS. 


105 


refused  to  take  us  any  farther.  So  we  left  our  trunks  in  a  shanty 
with  no  lock  on  the  door,  to  remain  over  night.  We  bravely  started 
on  through  two  miles  of  dense  forest,  but  did  not  proceed  far  before 
I  found  myself  sinking  in  the  mud.  Brother  said  he  must  o-0  back 
and  get  me  a  pair  of  his  boots.  So  when  nicely  booted  we  made 
our  way  through  a  lonely  forest.  The  tall,  straight  trees,  and  sweet 
Singing  of  new  birds  was  very  exciting,  and  highly  enjoyed  by  me." 

•*  * 

'  Professor  Barbour  was  a  Scotchman.  He  belonged  to  the  class  of 
59.  Before  the  completion  of  his  college  course  he  was  married 
ind  accordingly  withdrew  from  the  institution  in  his  Senior  year  in 
'omphance  with  the  rule  then  rigidly  enforced,  whereby  married 
students  were  excluded  from  the  privilege  of  belonoino-  to  the 
school.  Afterwards  the  full  honors  of  graduation  were  conferred 
ipon  him;  so  that  we  of  to-day  may  proudly  include  him  in  the  num- 
ber of  our  honored  Alumni.  He,  also,  belonged  to  the  noble  army 
»f  self-supporting  students,  and  enjoys  to-day  the  consciousness  of 
mowing  that  he  earned  in  the  fullest  sense  the  wisdom  which  he 
ccumulated  here.  The  particular  branch  of  work  in  which  he  en- 
gaged was  that  of  paper-hanging  and  upholstering.  The  thorouo-h- 
Less  with  which  he  performed  all  his  work  ig  pleasantly  illustrated 
,»y  the  fact  that  until  a  year  or  two  ago  the  walls  of  Dr.  Morgan's 
ouse  were  adorned  with  paper  which  he  had  hung,  and  which"  had 
tood  the  test  of  twenty  year's  use.  Until  recently,  also,  there  was 
ome  furniture  in  the  possession  of  the  college  which  he  upholster- 
d.  He,  also,  is  earnest  in  accrediting  Oberlin  with  the  honor  of 
laking  him  in  large  measure  what  he  is. 

:  Prof.  Barbour,  some  years  ago,  in  a  speech  before  the  New  Eno- 
md  Society,  said: 

"I  will  tell  you  what  kind  of  hazing  I  got  when  I  went  to  Oberlin. 
'  did  not  know  a  single  person  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  I  went 
lere,  and  the  first  person  I  met  was  a  church  deacon,  and  I  asked 
im  where  the  college  office  was.    This  Godly  man,  seeing  that  I  was 

stranger,  left  his  wheelbarrow  and  said,^Come  along,  I'll  show 
As  we  walked  along  he  talked  pleasantly  to  me. 


>u. 


I  went  into  Tappan  Hall,  and  instead  of  being  smoked  out,  as  I 
•ht  have  been  elsewhere,  a  man  said :  '  You  are  a  new  student. 
|ave  you  got  your  wood  yet?  Well,  here  is  my  saw;  go  to  my  pile 
|id  help  yourself  till  you  buy  a  load.'  So,  through  every  little  want, 
never  knew  anything  but  the  utmost  kindness.  It  seemed  as  if 
rery  one  there  was  on  the  lookout  to  see  how  much  goodness  and 
jndness  he  could  show  to  strangers.  I  would  to  God  that  every 
allege  in  the  land  would  follow  those  examples." 


106  OBERLINIANA. 

Emeline  Horton,  while  attending  school  at  Oberlin,  was  a  tall, 
dignified,  graceful  girl,  rather  reserved  in  deportment  except  in  the 
society  of  her  intimates,  but  actuated  by  generous  impulses.  She 
pursued  the  Literary  course.  While  a  student  she  evinced  an  inter- 
est in  the  science  of  medicine,  but  no  one  ever  thought  that  she 
would  afterwards  take  the  helm  of  the  leading  Woman's  Medical 
College  in  the  country,  and  become  eminent  not  only  on  this  contin- 
ent, but  also  in  Europe,  as  an  educator  in  this  department.  She 
never  made  her  views  offensive,  but  on  the  contrary  commanded 
universal  respect.  As  a  student  she  was  particularly  good  in  the 
classics.  She  married  a  Mr.  Cleveland,  who  was  a  theological  stu- 
dent here  at  the  time  when  she  pursued  her  Literary  studies.  Her 
death  took  place  two  or  three  years  ago  at  Philadelphia,  where  her 
lifework  had  chiefly  been  spent. 

* 
*  * 

It  is  pleasant  to  remember  that  Emily  Huntington  Miller  belongs 
to  the  great  Oberlin  family.  The  soil  here  has  not  been  esteemed 
entirely  favorable  to  the  cultivation  of  the  muses,  and  one  would 
hardly  look  for  so  gifted  a  daughter  of  song  among  our  number. 
While  a  student  here  Miss  Huntington  excelled  in  literary  work. 
She  was  a  graceful  writer  in  poetry  and  prose  alike,  and  her  class 
exercises  elicited  general  pomment.  She  was  one  of  those  whose 
school  days  contained  a  prophecy  of  the  future  which  awaited  them. 
Graduating  in  1859  she  married  Mr.  Miller,  of  the  class  of  '60.  Her 
life  has  been  devoted  to  literary  pursuits,  and  all  are  familiar  with 
the  eminence  she  has  attained.  As  a  student  she  was  a  sensitive, 
retiring  young  lady,  endowed  with  warm  sympathies,  and  particu- 
larly tenacious  of  friendships.  Her  graduating  exercise  was  a 
poem.  In  a  later  chapter  will  be  given  a  few  verses  from  her  facile 
pen. 


Mr.  M.  E.  Strieby,  the  Secretary  of  the  American  Missionary 
Association,  whose  reputation  is  co-extensive  with  that  of  the  great 
society  with  which  he  is  connected,  was  a  member  of  the  class  of  '38. 
The  following  extract  from  one  of  his  letters  tells  what  has  become 
of  many  of  the  "former  students"  whom  we  have  been  sketching: 

"The  missionary  spirit  of  Oberlin  deserves  both  record  and  rev- 
erence. Its  five  hundred  school  teachers  sent  out  annually  for  years, 
in  the  West  and  South,  are  as  true  missionaries  as  ever  went  to 
liea then  lands,  for  not  only  in  the  school,  but  in  the  home,  the  praj'er 
meeting,  the  Suncla}^  school  and  the  church,  were  they  an  evangel- 
izing force.     In  home  missions  they  soon  came  to  be  a  power.     Dr. 


: 


SKETCHES  OF  FORMER  STUDENTS.  107 

Badger,  the  veteran  Secretary  of  the  American  Home  Missionary 
Society,  used  to  say  that  if  he  wanted  a  man  to  go  where  the  work 
was  hardest  and  the  pay  least,  he  would  go  to  Oberlin  for  him.  For 
years  the  American  Missionary  Association  could  find  missionaries 
nowhere  else  for  its  self-denying  and  unpopular  fields.  Among  the 
Indians  of  the  Northwest,  the  refugees  in  Canada,  the  emancipated 
slaves  of  the  West  Indies  and  in  the  jungles  of ,  West  Africa,  the 
graduates  of  Oberlin  were  ready  to  sacrifice  their  lives." 


Prof.  Monroe,  in  speaking  of  Company  C,  the  Oberlin  company 
during  the  late  war,  pays  the  following  tribute  to  the  valor  of  those 
student  soldiers — our  nameless  former  students: 

"  On  a  Saturday  evening  we  had  a  large  meeting  in  the  First 
Church.  I  had  brought  with  me  some  blank  forms  for  enlistment, 
and  I  made  such  explanations  as  seemed  to  be  required.  There  was 
no  need  of  urgency.  When  it  was  announced  that  the  papers  were 
ready  for  signatures,  young  men  were  seen  coming  rapidly  forward 
from  all  parts  of  the  house  and  the  pulpit  was  soon  crowded.  A 
more  eloquent  sermon  was  never  preached  from  it.  There  were 
many  tears  upon  the  faces  of  spectators,  but  none  upon  those  of  the 
3roung  men.  Forty-nine  names  .were  obtained  that  evening.  The 
next  day,  which  was  the  Sabbath,  young  men  came  all  day,  at  inter- 
vals, to  join  the  growing  company.  I  do  not  think  it  ever  occurred 
to  them  or  myself,  that  there  could  be  anything  incongruous  between 
the  spirit  by  which  they  were  animated  and  the  devotional  feeling- 
suitable  for  the  day.  The  roll  of  names  was  much  increased  by 
Sunday  evening,  and  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  College  Chapel  early 
on  Monday  morning,  was  further  enlarged  until  it  included  a  full 
company  of  one  hundred  men,  all  college  students.  How  well  I 
remember  the  handsome  young  faces  of  those  volunteers,  as  they 
came  to  subscribe  their  names — 

•  i  Such  splendid  purpose  in  their  eyes' — 

and  their  cheeks  flushed  with  the  fine  fever  of  their  high  resolve. 
There  was  no  levity  among  them.  They  were  thoughtful  but  cheer- 
ful. How  gentle,  ingenuous  and  manly  they  appeared !  Not  a  word 
was  said  about  pay  or  promotion.  The  company  was  mustered  into 
the  service,  April  30,  at  Camp  Taylor,  in  Cleveland.  Early  in  May 
it  was  ordered  to  report  at  Camp  Dennison  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  State  and  stopped  a  night  at  Columbus  on  the  way.  In  that 
city  the  men  had  some  difficulty  about  accommodations.  I  found 
sleeping  places  for  a  portion  of  them  in  the  Senate  Chamber.  The 
rest  I  escorted  to  the  basement  of  the  Capitol  which  the  appliances 


108  OBERLINIANA. 

for  heating  the  building  had  made  at  least  warm  and  dry.  I  remem- 
ber the  cheerfulness  with  which  they  called  to  each  other  from 
different  parts  of  this  huge  vault,  and  wrapping  their  blankets 
about  them  and  using  their  knapsacks  for  pillows,  laid  down  upon 
the  cemented  floors  or  upon  the  brick  furnaces  for  their  night's 
sleep. 

"Toward  the  close  of  May  I  visited  them  at  Camp  Dennison, 
taking  with  me  supplies,  letters  and  messages  from  Oberlin.  I 
found  them  not  only  practicing  the  manual  of  arms,  but  holding 
weekly  prayer-meetings  in  the  street  between  their  barracks,  and 
morning  and  evening  worship  in  each  of  the  messes  into  which  the 
company  was  divided.  This  practice  of  family  worship  was  main- 
tained to  the  end  of  the  war.  Leaving  out  of  the.  account  skir- 
mishes and  slight  engagements,  they  bore  a  part  on  at  least  a  dozen 
well-known  battle-fields.  On  some  of  these,  they  were  placed  in  the 
most  exposed  situations  and  suffered  terribly.  At  Cross  Lanes, 
after  they  had  maintained  an  unequal  contest,  upon  a  little  eminence 
on  which  they  had  formed,  until  all  the  companies  about  them  had 
fled,  several  of  their  number  were  left  severely  wounded  upon  the 
field,  twenty-nine,  including  their  Captain  and  five  other  officers, 
were  taken  prisoners  and  the  rest  of  the  company  were  temporarily 
dispersed.  The  company  was  soon'  again  in  the  field  and  fought 
bravely  and  with  heavy  loss  at  Winchester  and  Port  Republic. 
From  the  severe  fighting  at  Cedar  Mountain  only  four  of  them 
escaped  unhurt.  At  Ringgold,  Colonel  Creighton  shouted  to  their 
regiment : 

" '  Boys,  we  are  ordered  to  take  that  hill.  I  want  to  see  you  walk 
right  up  it.' 

"  They  did  so  and  took  it.  Fourteen  of  the  twenty  men  of  Compa- 
ny C  who  were  in  this  action,  were  struck  down,  six  killed  and  eight 
wounded.  When  they  were  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1864, 
thirty-one  of  their  number  had  lost  their  lives  by  battle,  seven  by 
diseases,  one  by  drowning,  and  the  great  majority  of  all  had  been 
wounded.  Several  members  of  Co.  C,  transferred  during  the  war, 
to  other  regiments,  were  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain,  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel or  Colonel.  Among  these  were  Sheldon,  Cheney,  An- 
drews, Cross,  Grabill  and  Cooper.  Prof.  Shurtleff,  who  was  made 
Captain  of  Company  C  at  its  organization,  after  his  exchange  as  a 
prisoner  of  war  was  effected,  re-entered  the  service  as  an  officer  on 
the  Staff  ol  General  Wilcox,  in  which  capacity  he  fought  at  Freder- 
icksburg. Subsequently,  commissioned  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  he 
was  engaged  in  the  series  of  battles  before  Petersburg.  For  gal- 
lantry in  the  charge  upon  New  Market,  where  he  was  wounded  in 


SKETCHES  OF  FORMER  STUDENTS.  109 

the  hand  and  thigh,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Colonel.  Near 
the  close  of  the  war  he  was  nominated  and  confirmed  as  Brevet 
Brigadier  General." 

*  * 

It  was  just  at  the  close  of  the  spring  term,  1856,  that  some  of  the 
preparatory  students  went  out  to  Brownhelm  to  spend  two  or  three 
days  upon  the  lake  shore. 

There  was  Willie  Ball,  son  of  Dr.  Ball  of  New  York  city,  a  noble 
little  fellow,  but  not  averse  to  an  innocent  "  lark."  Poor  fellow !  he 
afterwards  graduated  at  Williams  and  years  since  went  "  over  to  the 
silent  majority."  There  was  Bennett,  a  rich  young  fellow,  also  from 
New  York  city,  whose  father  had  sent  him  to  Oberlin  for  pruden- 
tial reasons.  There  was  Belden,  also  a  New  Yorker,  whose  father,  a 
clergyman,  had  sent  him  to  Oberlin  for  about  the  same  reason.  Bel- 
den afterwards  became  identified  with  Wall  street,  and  was  the 
principal  broker  of  poor  Fisk  and  Jay  Gould  upon  the  memorable 
"Black  Friday"  in  1873,  and  was  the  scape-goat  for  those  virtuous 
children  of  Mammon.  "Xen"  Wheeler,  who  afterwards  went  to  Yale, 
and  is  now  the  United  States  District  Attorney  at  Chattanooga, 
was  one  of  the  party.  Andrews,  then  of  Oberlin,  but  now  of  Cleve- 
land, was  one.  How  it  happened  that  Dan  B — ,  then  a  Senior,  went 
with  these  jolly  Preps,  it  would  be  hard  to  tell;  but  he  did.  He  is 
now  a  much  respected  minister  of  the  Gospel.  The  boys  stopped  at 
a  farmhouse  on  the  shore,  and  the  next  morning  B —  and  Wheeler 
got  up  early  and  went  down  to  the  lake  for  a  swim  before  breakfast. 

They  got  a  boat  and  went  out  and  took  their  swim,  but  the  wind 
blew  fresh  from  the  lake,  and  by  the  time  they  were  through  with 
their  bath  the  boat  had  drifted  some  distance  up  the  lake.  It  was 
a  disagreeable  job  for  the  undressed  and  chilly  bathers  to  get  the 
boat  back  to  the  landing.  B —  deserted,  and  dressing  himself,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  house,  leaving  Wheeler  to  care  for  the  boat  or  let  ifc 
drift.  Some  of  the  other  boys  came  down  after  the  departure  of 
B — ,  and  with  their  aid  the  boat  was  secured.  Wheeler  didn't  feel 
pleasantly  over  the  conduct  of  B — ,  and  the  others  shared  his  sen- 
timents. Accordingly  at  the  breakfast  table,  in  the  presence  of 
B — ,  it  was  resolved  to  take  him  down  after  breakfast  and  duck  him 
in  the  lake. 

B —  heard  the  plot  but  did  not  think  the  Preps,  would  venture 
upon  such  an  assault  upon  the  person  of  a  Senior;  but  after  they 
got  through  their  breakfast  they  grabbed  him,  and  in  spite  of  all 
protestations  and  entreaties  carried  him  to  the  lake  bodily,  and 
soused  him  in.  Somehow  the  matter  came  to  the  attention  of  the 
Faculty,  and  a  public  reprimand  was  administered  to  the  Preps., 
Principal  Fairchild  officiating. 


110  OBERLINIANA. 

This  is  something  of  a  "wild  oats"  reminiscence,  perhaps,  but 
the  persons  participating  in  the  experience, — (Yes,  they  have  all 
sobered  down,  now,) — recall  the  circumstance  with  so  much  interest 
that  it  was  thought  best  to  include  it.  The  outcome  illustrates  how 
the  tangles  in  young  lives  are  straightened  out  here,  and  how  even 

the  wildest  have  been  entirely  "tamed  "  by  Oberlin  training. 

* 

A  graduate  of  Dartmouth,  associated  with  Oberlin  as  a  member 
of  the  Faculty  for  more  than  twenty-five  years,  and  a  man  of  won- 
derful inventive  genius,  Prof.  C.  H.  Churchill,  has  exercised  a  very 
wide  spread  influence,  and  one  not  confined  to  his  special  depart- 
ment. We  look  upon  him  as  a  Professor  solely,  but  he  also  belongs 
to  the  army  of  former  students,  having  studied  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  here.  When  he  joined  himself  to  Oberlin  in  the  capacity 
of  an  instructor,  he  was  offered  the  Chair  of  Music,  but  refused  to 
take  it,  with  characteristic  modesty,  on  the  ground  of  incompetency. 
He  accepted  the  Professorship  of  Mathematics  and  Physics,  and 
has  held  the  position  ever  since. 

He  made  the  first  pipe  organ  ever  used  in  an  Oberlin  church,  an 
organ  which  had  four  sets  of  pipes,  with  swell,  and  which  he  him- 
self played  for  a  year  in  the  First  Church.  Thomas  E.  Monroe,  of 
Akron,  the  well-known  preacher,  made  the  case  for  this  organ.  In 
later  years  he  manufactured  a  telephone  in  his  workshop,  and  a 
phonograph  was  turned  out  on  his  lathe  which  acted  as  successfully 
as  any  that  could  be  purchased.  A  galvanometer  made  by  him  for 
college  uses  was  superior  to  either  of  two  costly  ones  which  had 
been  purchased.  The  advice  and  assistance  given  Mr.  Gray  and  Mr. 
Munn  by  him  was  very  largely  instrumental  in  perfecting  the  in- 
vention of  the  telephone  and  atmospheric  train  signal.  Mr.  Gray's 
experiments  with  electricity,  particularly  with  the  inductive  coil, 
were  largely  carried  on  with  Prof.  Churchill's  aid.  He  has  never 
sought  fame,  but  has  been  content  to  wield  his  influence  in  a  retiring- 
way,  and  it  has  been  an  influence  which  eveiy  Oberlin  student  who 
has  studied  with  him  will  remember  with  gratitude.  The  Chair  of 
Physics  which  he  now  holds  will  never  be  filled  by  a  man  more 
eminently  fitted  in  every  way  for  such  a  position  in  a  great  college. 
His  modest  generosity  and  delicate  consideration  of  the  feelings  of 
others  have  become  proverbial.  How  many  will  echo  the  sentiment 
of  an  alumnus  who  recently  said,  "I  always  thought  twice  before  I 
asked  Prof.  Churchill  for  anything,  because  I  knew  that  if  I  did 
he'd  rob  himself,  if  need  be,  to  get  it  for  me!" 


i 


CHAPTER  XI 

OBERLIN    POETRY. 

^/'"N  BERLIN  College  has  never  possessed  any  songs  which  could 
_f\_y properly  be  denominated  "college.'"  At  several  times  during 
':  her  history  more  or  less  interest  has  been  aroused  over  this 
lack  of  that  which  forms  such  a  prominent  part  of  the  stu- 
dent's life  elsewhere,  and  committees  have,  been  appointed 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  or  preparing  the  poetry  which 
might  properly  be  said  to  belong  to  Oberlin.  But  all  these 
efforts  have  hitherto  proved  unavailing.  With  the  exception  of  the 
society  songs  and  the  songs  which  each  class  feels  compelled  to 
claim  as  its  own  on  "Junior  Ex"  day,  and  sing  at  Commencement, 
uothing  is  found.  It  is  true  that  the  students  are  singers  and  en- 
joy  trolling  the  common  college  songs;  still  very  little  of  this 
nature  distinctively  of  Oberlin  is  recorded.  It  would  be  remarkable 
if  the  contrary  were  the  case,  for  Oberlin  life  does  not  present  the 
soil  necessar}^  to  the  successful  growth  of  the  average  college  song. 
It  is  hardly  probable  that  the  college  will  ever  possess  a  rollicking- 
song  book;  she  certainly  does  not  need  one,  for  the  truest  earnest- 
ness and  high  developement  which  Oberlin  demands  is  incompatible 
with  the  writing,  printing  and  singing  of  the' nonsense- verses  which 
make  up  most  song  books. 

Poetry,  real  good  poetry,  we  have  never  lacked.  Poets  whose 
first  lines  were  given  to  the  world  in  Oberlin,  are  now  known  around 
the  broad  globe!  And,  again,  much  of  that  written  was  ephemeral, 
the  creation  of  the  hour. 

We  have  tried  to  select,  some  few  specimens  from  different 
authors  who  were  well  known  in  their  Oberlin  day  and  generation 
at  least,  trusting  to  revive  pleasant  memories  in  the  hearts  of  many 
of  Oberlin' s  sons  and  daughters  as  well  as  to  preserve  some  few  of 
many  excellent  poems.  Of  course,  no  matter  what  or  how  fine  poe- 
try our  authors  may  have  written  since  going  out  into  the  world, 
we  can  only  appropriately  introduce  here  that  which  was  written 
in  or  about  Oberlin.  It  would  also  be  impossible  to  make  such  a 
collection  exhaustive.  We  have  attempted  only  to  insert  a  few 
poems  of  interest. 


112  OBEULINIA.NA. 

Prof.  Morgan  states  that  he  once  called  on  Prof.  Allen  in  order  to 
obtain  accurate  ^information  relative  to  the  real  authorship  of  the 
hymn  always  credited  to  Prof.  Allen.  He  was  informed  that  the 
general  opinion  should  be  directly  reversed,  for  while  he  was  the 
sole  and  only  author  of  the  music  which  always  accompanies  "Must 
Jesus  bear  the  Cross  alone,1'  he  had  only  re-written  and  adapted 
the  hymn  from  another,  with  the  exception  of  the  third  stanza, 
which  was  his  own.  The  original  hymn  ran:  "Must  Simon  bear 
the  Cross  alone,"  etc. 

OBEKLIN  COLLEGE  HYMN. 

COMPOSED    BY    PROFESSOR   ALLEN,    '38. 

Must  Jesus  bear  the  cross  alone, 

And  all  the  world  go  free? 
No:  there's  a  cross  for  every  one, 
«         And  there's  a  cross  for  me. 

Disowned  on  earth,  'mid  griefs  and  cares, 

He  led  his  toilsome  way; 
But  now  in  heaven  a  crown  he  wears, 

And  reigns  in  endless  clay. 

How  happy  are  the  saints  above 
Who  once  went  sorrowing  here; 

But  now  they  taste  unmingled  love, 
And  joy  without  a  tear. 

The  consecrated  cross  Til  bear, 

Till  from  the  cross  set  free, 
And  then  go  home,  my  crown  to  wear, 

For  there's  a  crown  for  me. 

The  following  is  the  Phi  Delta  Society  song.  It  was  first  sung 
at  the  twenty-second  anniversary  held  Aug.  21st,  1861. 

(PlXoj   AidXezrov, 

PHI  DELTA  SONG. 

AUTHOR    UNKNOWN. 

Air — "Lauriger  Horatius" 
Io!  mihi  amici 

Omnesque  sodales, 
Jam  Phi  Delta  dicite 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  113 

Laudes  litterales, 
Semper  enim  comitat 
Musa  non  proterva, 
Adclit  et  consiliam 
Sapiens  Minerva. 
Chorus — Valeat  sodalitas 
Omni  in  tempore, 
Ante  omnes  ceteras, 
Gloria  majore. 

Neque  nos  deseruit 

Hermes  is  faeundus 
Cultor  eloquenthe, 

Semper  verecundus. 
Usum  simul  adhibet 

Cum  jucimdidate; 
Floret  sapientia 

Artesque  amatse. 
Chorus — Valeat,  etc. 

O,  Phi  Delta  optimum, 

Sempiternum  esto! 
Careas  cliscordiis 

Marteque  infesto. 
Vireat  ingenium;- 

Adsit  spes,  gratsequ'e 
Fides  et  concordia, 

Amicitiseque. 
Chorus — Valeat,  etc. 

ALPHA  ZETA  SOCIETY  SONG. 

a.  m'caskey,  '82  o.  c. 

Let  the  gold  lie  in  the  mountain 

And  the  silver  in  the  mine, 
"  We  seek  Truth,"  Old  Alpha  Zeta, 

And  our  motto  shall  be  thine, 
We  seek  truth,  Old  Alpha  Zeta, 

And  our  motto  shall  be  thine. 
Chorus — Hail,  all  hail  then,  Alpha  Zeta, 

Sound  the  chorus  loud  and  long- 
Let  s AXyjOzta>;  Zarou/JLev" 


114  OBERLINIA^A. 

s    Be  the  watchword  of  our  song. 
In  the  days  that  are  before  us, 

Far  awa}'  on  sea  or  land, 
Heart  to  heart  we'll  join  the  chorus 

Of  her  true  and  trusted  band. 
Heart  to  heart  we'll  join  the  chorus 

Of  her  true  and  trusted  band. 
Chorus — 


"PHI  KAPPA  PI"  SONG. 

BY    REV.    P.    S.    BOYD,    '69 

[Rev.  Pliny  Steele  Boyd  is  at  present  one  of  the  leading  ministers- 
connected  with  the  Congregational  church  in  the  East.  He  is 
settled  at  Amesbury,  Mass.  While  in  college  he  attained  consider- 
able reputation  as  a  writer  of  poetry.  For  many  years  he  has  been 
a  constant  prose  contributor  to  the  "Independent,"  "  Golden  Rule," 
and  other  leading  periodicals.] 

A  year,  a  year  hath  fled,  boys ! 

Since  our  defunct  Lyceum, 

Last  held  her  anniversary, 

And  sung  her  last  "Te  Deum." 

But  now  she's  changed  her  name,  bo}Ts; 

Ay,  she  has  changed  her  name, 

As  many  a  merry  maiden  does, 

When  she  becomes  a  dame. 

Chorus. — "Friendship  and  progress,"  swell  the  chorus  high, 
And  ring  out  the  watchword  of  the  Phi  Kappa  Pi ; 
"Friendship  and  progress,"  swell  the  chorus  high, 
And  ring  out  the  watchword  of  the  Phi  Kappa  Pi. 

And  now  we'll  sing  a  song,  boys; 

To  the  old  and  last  adieu ! 

Thene  raise  our  merry  voices  high, 

In  chorus  to  the  new; 

The  old  must  pass  away  boys ; 

Let  no  regrets  be  heard, 

So  long  as  something  better  comes, 

And  progress  is  the  word. 

Chorus. — 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  115- 


In  friendship  we'll  be  true,  boys! 
In  progress  we'll  be  brave; 
We'll  fight  the  battle  of  the  right, 
And  win  an  honored  grave; 
To  truth  we'll  e'er  be  loyal; 
For  truth  will  live  and  die, 
And  thus  do  honor  to  the  name 
Of  our  Phi  Kappa  Pi. 

Chorus — 


The  following  poem  was  the  first  which  appeared  in  the  first- 
paper  published  in  Oberlin,  Jan  1839.  Vol.  I,  No.  I,  Oberlin  Evan- 
gelist. It  is  worthy  a  place  for  that  reason,  as  well  as  for  its  intrinsic 
ivorth.  The  author  is  to  well  known  too  the  Oberlin  world  to  need 
my  introduction. 

HYMN  OF  THE  EARTH. 

NELSON    W.    HODGE,    THEOL.  '41 

Again  I  wheel  my  airy  flight, 

To  bring  the  months  and  seasons  round; 

To  spread  the  sable  shades  of  night, 
And  give  the  day,  with  glory  crowned. 

With  joyful  speed  I  haste  away, 

And  urge  the  tardy  wings  of  Time,. 
As  dawn  the  splendors  of  the  sway 

Messiah  bears  from  clime  to  clime. 

The  isles  upon  the  western  sea, 

Where  blows  the  citron-scented  gale, 

Will  hail  the  New  Year  of  the  free, 
In  songs  of  joy  from  hill  and  vale. 

The  Prophet's  creed — the  baleful  beams — 

The  waning  Crescent  feebly  flings, 
Will  pale,  as  wide  the  Sunlight  streams, 

"  With  healing  in  its  sacred  wings." 

Upon  the  mountains,  dark  and  drear, 
Where  vices  reign,  and  sins  destroy, 

The  feet  in  beauty  will  apppear, 
Of  those  who  herald  Zion's  joy. 


116  OBERLINIANA. 

Then  let  me  on  my  circlet  run, 
v  Till  praise  by  every  tongue  be  given 
To  God  on  high — "  His  will  be  done 
On  earth,  as  it  is  clone  in  heaven." 


HISTORICAL  EPIC. 

J.  B.  HINMAN,  '62. 

The  argument  of  the  following  poem  is  as  follows:  First  coupl 
The  ancient  origin  of  PhiKappa  Society.  Second  couplet,  Its  pel 
gree.  Third  couplet,  The  change  of  name.  Fourth,  Reflections  on  tl 
same — peace  for  the  past  and  prosperity  for  the  future.  Fifth,  T| 
birth  of  song  in  the  Society  and  consequent  glory.  Sixth.  TI 
grand  success  of  a  patriotic  colloquy.  Seventh,  The  successful  pa 
and  glorious  future. 

Am — "  Alma  Mater." 

Far  back  in  the  annals  of  our  old  Alma  Mater, 
Lies  the  birth  of  Phi  Kappa — all  others  come  later. 

Chorus — Hurrah !    Hurrah !  Phi  Kappa  forever ! 
Hurrah !    Hurrah !  Phi  Kappa  forever ! 

In  infancy  christened  the  "Young  Men's  Lyceum," 
She  daily  expanded,  and  sung  her  "  Te  Deum." 
Chorus — 

Old  Tempus,  advancing,  observed  her  improvement, 
And  kindly  projected  a  classical  movement. 
Chorus — 

O  lacryma  Lyced,  quiescat  in  pace, 
Et  vive  'la  Phi  Kappa  in  omni  aetate. 
Chorus — 

She  sang  the  first  song,  boys ;  she  was  crowned  with  the  sorrel —  ] 
While  her  friend,  the  Phi  Delta  walked  off  with  the  laurel. 
Chorus — 

The  colloquy  next  won  the  bays  for  her  caput; 
And  her  valiant' sons  pledge  that  they  ever  shall  "  stay  put." 
Chorus — 

The  past  holds  her  jewels,  the  present  is  smiling, 
The  future  looks  gracious,  all  sadness  beguiling. 
Chorus — 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  117 

ODE  TO  PROF.  DASCOMB'S  SKELETON. 

AUTHOR  UNKNOWN. 

Thou  art  not  fair, 

And  yet,  perchance,  some  trace 
Of  beauty  rare 

Once  lingered  round  thy  face. 

Thy  youthful  limbs 

No  costly  robes  adorn, 
Not  even  the  cuticle 

Protects  thy  bones  forlorn. 

There  was  a  time, 

Thou  hadst  three  coats  of  skin, 
The  outer,  middle 

And  the  principal  coat  within. 

And  long  ago, 

Within  the  coats  of  skin, 
Were  muscles  many, 

Some  were  thick,  some  thin. 

And  nerves  did  course  through  every  part, 

And  arteries,  and  veins; 
But  each  and  all  have  vanished,  gone, 

And  not  a  trace  remains. 

And  once,  within  thy  cranium, 

There  dwelt  an  active  brain ; 
And  o'er  thy  scalp  with  skillful  care, 

The  silken  locks  were  trained. 

An  eye,  a  nose,  and  ruby  lips, 

Thou  .surely  once  didst  own; 
A  tongue  was  thine;  a  laiynx  too, 

Perchance  made  dulcet  tone. 

But  now,  alas !  thy  form  how  changed ! 

And  yet  more  changed  thy  face! 
The  rounded  outlines  all  are  gone, 

The  beauty  and  the  grace. 

And  naught  is  left  but  naked  bones, 

With  joints  of  rigid  steel; 
Thy  empty  sockets  coldly  meet 

The  gaze,  thou  canst  not  feel. 


118  OBERLINIANA. 

In  lank  indifference,  thou  hang'st 

Suspended  b.y  a  wire. 
Thou  hast  no  robes,  so  Doctor  D. 

Has  hung  thee  near  the  fire. 

And  there  thou  hang'st  from  day  to  day 
Unmindful  of  the  throng, 

Which  gathers  round  to  count  thy  bones, 
The  flat,  the  short  and  long. 

And  so  farewell !  thou  ghostly  ruin, 
Thy  fate  we  must  deplore, 

And  though  thou  hast  so  many  bones 
We're  glad  thou  hast  no  more. 


MAIDEN   CHARMS. 

[From  the  German.] 
W.  H.  BUSS,  '79. 

Flaxen  locks  in  rich  profusion, 

Eyes  like  stars  that  flash  and  sparkle, 

Rays  of  life  from  blue  seclusion, 

Cheeks  of  rose  and  roguish  dimple. 

Little  mouth  for  kissing  priming, 
Lips  the  tint  of  rosy  morning, 

Voice  as  clear  as  Sabbath  chiming, 
To  the  house  of  worship  calling. 

Rare  indeed  the  charms  external — 
Gifts  of  Nature's  rich  bestowing, 

Yet  alone  are  charms  eternal 

That  from  depths  of  soul  are  growing. 

Others  all  are  frail  and  fleeting — 
In  the  storm  of  Time,  are  human. 

Like  the  lifeless  bust  of  marble 
Is  the  handsome  soulless  woman. 


Shortly  after  the  building  of  the  Town  Hall  the  following  parody 
-appeared  in  the  Weekly  News  for  December  21,  1871,  relative  to  the 
so-called  eagle  which  had  been  placed  on  the  dome  of  the  building, 
As  the  verse  is  as  appropriate  now  as  ever,  for  the  inimitable  humor 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  119 

will  be  appreciated  by  anyone  who  will  glance  at  the  Town  Hall  to- 
day, we  reproduce  it  in  full.  It  will  add  to  the  interest  to  know 
that  the  author  was  no  other  than  our  Professor  Churchill. 

RAVING,  BY  POH! 

Once  upon  a  summer  evening,  while  I  sauntered  tired  and  lone, 
Up  and  down  the  park,  a  vision  froze  my  very  blood  to  stone. 
Ah,  distinctly  I   remember,  how  the  sight  transfixed  each  member, 
Pictured  on  this  mortal  eye,  from  the  dome  against  the  sky. 
Deep  into  the  blue  vault  peering,  long  stood  I  there  wondering,  fear- 
ing, 
If  that  dreadful  thing  could  fly. 

Then  the  wondrous  fowl  beguiling  my  sad  fancy  into  smiling; 
First  a  smile  came,  then  a  roar.     Till   each  muscle  tense  relaxing 
And  the  echoes  louder  waxing,  brought  returning  sense  once  more. 
Buyely,  said  I,  this  is  something.  Let's  the  mystery  explore. 
Let  my  mirth  be  still  a  moment,  while  the  mystr'y  I  explore; 
This  is  fair  and  nothing  more. 

Straight  I  sought  a  tempting  grass-plot,  fronting  bird  and   tower 

and  door, 
There  upon  the  green-sward  sinking,  I  betook  myself  to  linking 
Fancy  unto  fancy,  thinking  of  all  the  ominous  birds  of  yore — 
Of  harpy,  buzzard,  owl  and  raven,  vulture,  hawk  on  sea  and  shore; 
Of  all   the  grim,   ungainly,  ghastly,   gaunt  and  ominous  fowls  of 

yore. 
Was  the  like  e'er  seen  before? 

Presently  my  soul  grew  bolder,  and  I  spake  for  each  beholder, 

'"Sir,"  I  said,  "or  Madam,  truly,  your  forgiveness  I  implore, 

That  we  warned  you  not  from  lighting  where  your  form  is   such  a 

bore ; 
But  the  fact  is  we  were  napping,  and  so  gently  you  came  flapping, 
Perching  o'er  the  Town  Hall  door,  and  so  handsomely  entrapping 
Us,  we're  sold  forever  more! 

But  yet  hasten  thy  departing,  bird  or  fiend,"  I  cried,  upstarting, 
"Get  thee  back  unto  the  furnace  and  the  fires  Plutonian  shore." 
And  my  lips  have  often  muttered,  "Other  birds  have  flown  before; 
On  the  morrow  he  may  leave  us — quit  the  dome  above  the  door." 

But  the  ghastly  fowl  sits  lonely  on  the  placid  dome,  and  only 
Wears  a  gesture  of  departing,  seeing  some  far-distant  shore. 
But  we  cannot  help  agreeing  that  if  any  human  being 
Ever  yet  was  blest  by  seeing  such  a  fowl  above  his  door, 
Such  a  gesture  little  meaning,  little  relevancy  bore. 


120  OBERLINIANA. 

Let  him  fold  his  royal  pinions,  let  him  lift  his  glorious  crest. 
Let  his  eye  express  dominion,  let  his  gesture  token  rest. 
Bends  the  fish  hawk' from  his  cliff',  peering  in  the  deep  blue  flood; 
Searching  out  a  gliding  victim  for  his  gasping,  famished  brood. 
But  the  eagle  s  power  and  pride  lifts  erect  the  kingly  form, 

Sternly  bidding  like  defiance  to  the  sunlight  and  the  storm. 

* 

The  verses  following  are  part  of  a  poem  read  at  Commencement 
1865,  by  their  author  Miss  Fanny  M.  Jackson,  a  colored  lady  who 
graduated  with  special  honors  from  the  classical  course. 

THE  GRANDEUR  OF  OUR  TRIUMPH. 

Is  the  grandeur  of  our  triumph 

The  Republic's  preservation, 
That  her  name  is  not  a  byword 

In  the  mouth  of  every  nation? 

Is  it  in  the  new-born  glory 

Which  around  our  country  glows; 

In  her  heroes'  names  immortal; 
In  the  conquering  of  her  foes? 

Surely  not,  e'en  though  the  whole  earth 

Shook  with  her  triumphal  cars; 

Though  all  nations  bowed  before  her, 

And  her  glory  touched  the  stars. 
*■_•$'*'*..* 

When  the  dark  days  came  upon  us — 

Bloody  days  when  no  man  slept; 
When  at  Bull  Run  and  at  Richmond 

O'er  unnumbered  slain  we  wept. 

All  for  love  of  Christ  and  country, 

In  the  trenches  dead  they  lay. 
Greener  grows  the  turf,  and  sweeter 

Bloom  the  wild  flowers  there  to-day. 

Then  came  also  days  of  fasting, 
When  our  country  bowed  her  head, 

While  in  sackcloth  and  in  ashes 
She  sat  mourning  for  her  dead. 

For  her  dead  and  not  her  sins, 

So  her  ears  no  victory  greeted; 
For  the  Lord  was  still  against  us — 

We  were  smitten  and  defeated. 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  121 

Till  a  great  cry  rose  amongst  us; 

Till  the  whole  land  blushed  with  blood 
At  the  stubborn  sin  which  kept  us 

Under  heaven's  avenging  rod. 

But  the  cloud  of  death  was  lifted, 

Stayed  the  now  of  martyrs'  blood ; 
When  our  country,  humble,  contrite, 

Groping  found  her  wa}T  to  God. 

As  from  out  the  Jordan's  waters 

Came  the  spotless  Lamb  of  God. 
As  from  heaven  the  light  eternal 

Flashed  its  glory  round  our  Lord. 

So  from  out  of  war's  red  sea, 

Baptized  anew  in  freedom's  name, 
Our  country  comes  with  snowy  robes, 

And  heart  with  holy  fire  aflame. 

Then  the  Lord  rebuked  the  foemen; 

Quickly  all  their  boastful  horde 

Fled  like  leaves  before  the  whirlwind 

At  the  coming  of  the  Lord. 
*  *  %  *  * 

Unto  Gocl  belong  the  praises; 

His  right  arm  the  vengeance  deals; 
In  the  whirlwind  of  the  battle 

We  have  heard  his  chariot  wheels. 

We  have  heard  His  mighty  trumpet; 

We  have  seen  his  flaming  sword, 
xVnd  the  grandeur  of  our  triumph 

Is  the  glory  of  the  Lord. 


YOUNG  AMERICA. 

P.   STEELE  BOYD.   '60. 

This  youth  is  Uncle  Samuel's  eldest  son; 

(I  hope  the  next  will  not  be  quite  so  wild) 
He  has  no  mother;  (he  has  need  of  one) 

He's  known  at  home  as  the  "Old  Woman's"  child 
He  says  he  only  called  her  so  "for  fun;" 

'Twasby  that  sort  of  fun  the  boy  was  "spiled" 
O,  had  the  youth  possessed  a  noble  mother, 

The  world  had  known  a  man;  mankind  a  brother. 


122  OBERLINIANA. 

This  wondrous  youth  was  early  sent  to  school; 

And  studied — everything — excepting  science ; 
His  rule  for  study — if  he  had  a  rule, 

Was  "lessons  last"     This  gave  him  self- reliance, 
Foundation  firm  whereon  to  build !     A  fool, 

With  such  a  start  might  bid  the  world  defiance; 
To  cap  the  climax  he  was  sent  to  college — 

For  what,  who  knows?  For  anything  but  knowledge; 

To  play  a  part  or  to  display  his  parts, 

To  play  at  checkers,  chess,  or  cards,  or  dice,- 
To  play  the  dandy,  play  the  juggler's  arts, 

To  play  off'  tricks  on  friends  not  over  nice, 
To  play  the  fool  with  cupid's  dangerous  darts, 

To  play  the  "sharper"  in  the  haunts  of  vice: 
At  many  a  game,  in  many  a  boisterous  revel. 

This  learned  youth  has  learned  to  play  the — "  Old  Nick.' 

Once  out  of  college — and  with  no  profession, 

Our  young  American  essays  to  wait 
For  "  something  to  turn  up  " — forsooth  a  session 

Of  Congress — or  he  hopes  some  public  gate 
Will  open  to  him,  giving  him  possession 

Of  some  fat  office  in  the  halls  of  state; 
And  hints  that  if  at  home  no  high  position 

Offers,  he  might  accept  a  foreign  mission. 

His  principles  would  never  interfere 

With  duty  as  a  party  politician; 
He  pulls  the  wires  by  instinct;  still  more  queer — 

A  ready-born  political  magician — 
Can  make  the  white,  the  blacker  side  appear, 

Or  e'en  the  truest  seem  the  false  position; 
With  hot  dis- unionists  can  hold  communion, 

And  shout — for  anything — to  "  save  the  Union." 

Perchance,  while  waiting,  he  may  dabble  lightly 

In  art,  or  science,  law,  or  peddling,  teaching; 
Perchance  in  literature  will  flourish  slightly; 

Or  he  may  give  his  time  to  doctoring,  preaching, 
Or  turn  reformer,  howling  fiercely,  mighty, 

Against  all  manner  of  villainous  over-reaching; 
No  man,  meanwhile,  more  like  to  cheat  the  nation, 

Or  better  fitted  to  o'er-reach  creation ! 


OBERLTN  POETRY.  123 

He's  a  universal  genius,  in  short; 

Ready  for  all  things  upon  all  occasions — 
For  making  war,  or  peace,  or  love,  or  sport; 

For  writing  essays,  sermons,  or  orations, 
For  smoking,  chewing,  gambling,  drinking  port ; 

For  dancing,  swearing,  lying,  all  invasions 
Upon  good  morals,  he  is  ever  ready — 

In  sooth,  he's  everything,  excepting — steady. 

CLASS  SONG  of  81. 

WRITTEN    BY    EVA  L.  EMERY  DYE. 

Hail  ye  classmates!  Hail  the  morning, 

When  we  chose  our  motto  bold. 
Vain  regret  and  murmur  scorning, 

As  the  heroes  did  of  old, 
W*ith  a  will  that  falters  never, 
With  a  heart  to  dare  forever 
In  one  earnest  grand  endeavor, 
Joins  the  class  of  '81. 

Chorus — Then  loiter  not  but  for  the  right, 
With  ever  steady  step  press  on 
Relying  on  the  God  of  might, 
w  a0dov  iupe    rj  Tzovqaov?*  \ 

Catch  its  joyous  echo  ringing, 

While  a  heart  of  us  survives, 
Inspiration  ever  flinging 

'Round  the  duties  of  our  lives. 
With  our  faces  lifted  upward, 
With  our  footsteps  pressing  onward, 
Toiling  aye  and  ever  sunward, 

Bends  the  class  of '81. 

Chorus — Then  loiter  not,  &c. 

When  the  silver  locks  are  threading 

Every  brow  so  fair  to-day, 
And  our  wearied  feet  are  treacling 

Down  along  life's  sunset  way, 
With  the  flag  of  triumph  o'er  us, 

With  the  hope  of  heaven  before  us, 
Stronger  still  may  thrill  this  chorus 

Through  the  heart  of  '81. 
Chorus — Then  loiter  not,  &c. 


124  OBERLINIANA. 

CLASSIS  SEX  SEPTUAGINTA. 

W.  G.   FROST,  '76. 

CLASS    SONG. 

Qui  adestis  amicoruni 
Spectatissimorum,  laete 

'Classis  sex  septuaginta 
Gratulator  vos ;  salvete. 

Chorus — Laeti  sumus  et  hilares, 
Nee  ignari  pensi, 
Semper  in  Collegio 
Oberliniensi. 

Professoribus  profugi 

Fratres  veri  et  sorores, 
Saepe  graviori  passi, 
Nunc  erramus  juniores. 
Chorus,  Idem. 

Antiquissimi  poetae, 

Et  umbrae  pkilosophorum 

Victi  sunt;  inveniemus 
Finem  omnium  laborum. 
Chorus,  Idem. 

Jesta  ducunt  ad  gerenda, 

Anni  fugiunt  veloces ; 
Ex  futuro  jam  audimus 
Evocantes  fati- voces. 
Chorus — Ad  majora  enitentes, 

Nee  ignari  pensi,  etc. 

Nos  jungemus  ad  alumnos 
Turn,  curriculo  peracto, 
Et  nonnulli  ad  alumnas, 
Vinculo  amoris  facto. 
(  !horus — Enim  Bacealaureati, 

Sunt  sic  deprehensi,  etc. 

Et  dnm  aura  datur  erit 
Nobis  gloria  cantare 
Almae  matris  clarae  laudes, 
Et  homores  ille  dare. 
Chorus — Ad  majora  enitentes, 

Nee  ignari  pensi,  etc. 


OBERLIX  POETRY.  12.1 

DANDELIONS. 

EMILY  HUNTINGTON   MILLER,   IN     OBERLIN   NEWS,   1867. 

In  my  lady's  garden, 

Hedged  about  with  green, 
Flame  the  stately  tulips, 

Gold  and  crimson  sheen. 

Nodding  in  the  West  wind, 

Gleaming  in  the  sun, 
In  their  cloistered  garden 

Hidden  like  a  nun. 

Round  about  my  cottage, 

Thick  as  stars  at  night, 
Dandelions  fill  the  grass 

With  their  faces  bright. 

Down  the  lanes  they  cluster, 

On  the  banks  where  bees 
All  the  sunny  morning, 

Drain  their  golden  lees. 

In  the  dewy  pastures, 

Up  the  grassy  hill, 
Where  the  sheep  go  cropping 

Daisies  at  their  will — 

Little  barefoot  children 

With  their  fingers  brown, 
Pluck  them  by  the  handful, 

Weave  them  for  a  crown. 

Ah!    the  stately  tulips 

May  be  rare  to  see, 
But  the  children's  blossom 

Dearer  is  to  me. 

And  my  dreams  of  spring  time 

One  sweet  picture  hold — 
Banks  of  tender  grasses, 

Dotted  thick  with  o-old! 


The  song  of  no  Oberlin  poetess  has  been  purer  and  truer  to  nature 
than  that  of  Eva  L.  Emery,  as  she  was  known  in  her  college  days, 


126  OBERLINIANA. 

of  '82,  classical  course.  She  is  at  present  teaching  in  Sidney,  Iowa, 
with  her  husband,  Charles  H.  Dye,  also  of  '82.  She  is  a  prolific 
writer,  and  like  Emily  Huntington  Miller,  a  woman  possessed  of 
many  graces  of  heart  as  well  as  mind.  A  few  characteristic  poems 
are  given  below: 

ALMA  OBERLIN. 

EVA  L.  EMERY  DYE. 

I've  trimmed  my  sail  in  Northern  seas, 

And  trod  Atlantic  snows, 
I've  faced  the  keen  Sierra  breeze, 

And  plucked  the  Alpine  rose; 
But  'neath  each  sky  as  e'en  of  yore, 

My  heart  hath  loyal  been, 
To  the  sweet  Alma  evermore, 

Sweet  Alma  Oberlin. 

I've  seen  thy  sons  on  Southern  soil, 

Locked  in  the  prison  pen, 
I've  seen  thy  bleeding  heroes  toil, 

To  free  their  fellow  men, 
On  battle-fields  of  every  hue, 

I've  seen  them  valiant  win, 
By  thee  nerved  on  to  dare  and  do, 

Sweet  Alma  Oberlin. 

I've  seen  thy  daughters  'mid  the  isles 

Of  far  Pacific  seas; 
I've  seen  them  where  the  tropic  smiles 

Above  the  Ceylonese ; 
I've  seen  them  brave  and  beautiful, 

As  maids  to  kings  akin, 
Thy  royal  daughters  dutiful, 

Sweet  Alma  Oberlin. 

Deep  in  my  heart  I  bear  the  seal 

Stamped  by  thy  signet  ring, 
And  evermore,  thro'  woe  or  weal, 

Thy  praises  will  I  sing; 
For  honor,  truth  and  right  are  thine, 

And  aye,  have  ever  been. 
So  loyal  beats  this  heart  of  mine, 

Sweet  Alma  Oberlin. 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  127 

CHRISTMAS  TYDE. 

EVA  L.  EMERY   DYE,  '82. 

Ye  yule-loo-  burns  for  Christmas  tyde, 

Ye  long  greene  lane  is  hydden, 
And  to  each  hearth-stone  farre  and  wyde, 

Ye  Christmas  guest  is  bydden. 

Y"e  hall  is  light  with  evergreene 

Mixt  with  ye  mistletoe, 
And  holly  berrys  blaze  betweene 

With  red  coquettish  glowe. 

Ye  midnight  chimes  awake  ye  lande 

To  madd,  forgetful  myrth, 
As  if  a  Prince  of  Pleasure  planned 

Ye  poetry  of  earth. 

For  high  and  lowly,  weak  and  wyse, 

Have  caught  contagious  joy, 
And  blythesome  hearts  and  merrie  eyes, 

Play  on  without  annoy. 

Peal  out,  ye  bells,  }re  earolls~chyme, 

For  Christmas  rules  belowe; 
Ye  eye,  ye  fire  of  winter  tyme, 

Mid-sommer  in  ye  snowe! 

We  include  the  following,  because,  although  not  written  by  an 
Oberlin  man,  it  is  yet  about  Oberlin,  and  will  commend  itself  to 
every  one  who  has  heard  Burdette.  It  is  from  the  Burlington  Hawk- 
eye,  and  was  written  by  Mr.  Burdette  shortly  after  lecturing  in 
Oberlin,  April  14,  1882:' 

"Our  visit  in  Oberlin  is  a  red  letter  day  in  our  calendar;  it  is 
full  of  sunshine  by  the  courtesies  of  the  grave  and  reverend  Seniors, 
the  Jester's  old  Junior  friends  of  last  year.  lightly  rest  the  new 
silk  hats  on  their  deserving  heads,  and  if  their  lives  are  only  as  full 
of  music  as  they  filled  the  parlor  of  her  little  highness,  (Mrs.  Bur- 
dette), they  will  carry  melody  into  the  world  when  they  leave  college. 
It  was  a  cheery  banquet  which  they  spread  for  the  Jester  after  the 
opera  was  over;  they  brought  the  bright  sunshine  of  the  college 
world  into  the  rooms  of  the  invalid,  and  when  we  left  next  day  for 
Port  Clinton,  the  beautiful  floral  offering  they  brought  to  her  little 
serene    highness,   shed    perfume    and    loveliness    through    the    car. 


128  OBERLiXIANA. 

Thoughts  of  themselves  will  mingle  with  other  pleasant  memories 
of  the  favorite  flower  that  clustered  among  the  roses,  and  hereafter, 
when  the  perfume  of  heliotrope  steals  upon  our  senses,  we  will 
think  of 

THE  BOYS  OF  OBERLIN. 

So  fair  the  world  before  them  lay 

Fast  fleecy  clouds  of  boyish  care 
Drifted  across  the  morning  gray 

That  kissed  their  upturned  faces  there. 
So  proudly  duty  called  them  on, 

So  fair  the  honors  the}-  hoped  to  win, 
Our  older  hearts  beat  time  with  theirs — 

These  care-free  boys  of  Oberlfh. 

They  sang,  with  sunrise  in  their  hearts, 

The  college  songs  you  used  to  sing; 
And  laughter  rippling  through  the  parts 

Timed  all  their  joyous  caroling. 
Lightly  the  rosy-fingered  morn 

Touched  hearts  and  voices,  chiming  in 
Their  chorused  songs  of  laughter  born — 

These  merry  boys  of  Oberlin. 

When  the  high  sun  with  burning  ray, 

Beats  on  their  hearts  that  throb  so  high, 
And  the  long,  toilsome,  burdened  day 

Shines  on  them  from  a  noon-tide  sky, 
Still  may  their  song  from  cheery  souls, 

Rise  o'er  the  world's  discordant  din. 
And  lighten  burdens  when  it  rolls — 

These  earnest  boys  of  Oberlin. 

Rise  clear  and  high  and  brave  and  strong. 
While  steadfast  feet  step  off  its  time, 

And  strengthened  men  shall  march  along- 
Glad  for  its  soul-inspiring  chime; 

And  fainting  hopes  shall  bless  its  day, 
And  with  new  life  and  strength  besni] 

To  walk  their  soul-inspired  way — 
These  gray- haired  boys  of  Oberlin. 

The  lengthening  shadows  creep  along 
Highway  and  meadow,  glen  and  hili; 

We  hear  their  grand,  heart-swelling  song- 
Ringing  down  their  pathway  still, 


OBEELI.v   POETRY.  129 

Changed  to  a  glad,  triumphant  psalm 

For  victories  over  wrong  and  sin; 
And  evening  closes,  soft  and  calm 

Above  the  boys  of  Oberlin. 


The  poetry  which  appeared  in  the  Oberlin  Evangelist  was  all  of 
a  devotional  character.  The  two  selections  we  have  made  from  it 
are  both  by  Rev.  N.  W.  Hodge,  and  both  illustrate  the  devotional 
spirit  of  the  early  years.  The  Student's  Monthly  witnessed  the 
production  of  the  more  sentimental  verse,  while  the  Review  is  the 
recipient  of  whatever  the  fervid  fancy  of  the  amateur  college  poet 
evolves.  The  following  was  taken  from  the  Evangelist  for  March, 
1840. 

SUNDAY  EVENING. 

Farewell  sweet  day!  thy  placid  close 

Steals  silent  on:  the  fading  light — 
The  trembling  star — the  winds  repose — 

Foretell  the  solemn,  quiet  night. 

Day,  on  which  rests  Jehovah's  smile 
Farewell!  May  still  thy  influence  blend 

With  all  that  would  the  soul  beguile, 
And  all  my  weekly  paths  attend. 

Oh  may  my  life  e'er  emblem  Thee, 
Hallowed  of  God — serenely  sweet — 

Its  peace  like  some  wide  river  be, 
That  gently  flows  a  silvery  sheet. 

Da}T  on  whose  morn  the  Savior  rose, 
Farewell !  thine  evening  calm  be  given 

To  us,  at  life's  deep  solemn  close, 
A  foretaste  of  the  rest  of  heaven. 

-X-  * 

(From  the  Oberlin  Student's  Monthly.) 
THE  GOOSE-QUILL. 

L.    G.    WARREN,    '58 

Let  everybody  stare  with  wonder, 
When  epic  poets  roar  and  thunder — 

When  tragic  bards,  to  horrify  us, 

With  subjects  dire  and  awful  ply  us — 

Content  I  sing — a  little  thing — 
A  goose-quill  from  a  goose's  wing. 


130  OBERLINIANA. 


The  ancients  used  with  painted  reeds 

To  chronicle  their  wondrous  deeds; 
Whate'er  they  would  hand  down  to  us 

They  wrote  it  with  a  calamus. 
Thus  Plato  wrote,  and  Aeschylus — 

Thucydides  and  Tacitus; 
Thus  Tally  wrote,  and  Martiales — 

Thus  Horace,  Ovid,  Juvenalis, 
Sallust,  Nepos,  Virgilius, 

And  all  the  rest  that  bother  us. 

Twas  thus  that  he,  of  times  remote, 
Mohammed's  clerk,  the  Koran  wrote; 

On  clean,  white  shoulder-blades  of  sheep 
Then  threw  them  in  a  chest  to  keep — 

One  chapter  on  each  shoulder-blade; 
So  these  combined  the  Koran  made. 

The  seventh  century  of  our  era, 

(About  the  time  there  is  some  query,) 
Though  'twas  an  age  degenerate. 

Produced  a  man  of  genius  great, 
Who  introduced  a  pen  much  better, 

And  made  posterity  his  debtor, 
The  tools  from  folly's  emblem  pluckt, 

That  wisdom  uses  to  instruct. 

The  benefactors  of  the  race 

In  history  often  find  no  place. 
Who  was  among  the  sons  of  men, 

The  first  to  use  a  goose-quill  pen? 
The  present  age  can  ne'er  be  sure. 

Was  he  a  Christian,  Jew,  or  Moor, 
A  Greek  or  Roman,  Goth  or  Hun? 

Who  was  his  father  ?  who  his  son? 
He  made  his  makk  upon  the  age; 

But  wrote  no  name  on  history's  page. 

Not  from  the  swan  that  all  admire, 

Not  from  the  bird  of  Jove,  high  fly er 
The  implements  of  wisdom  came, 

But  from  the  goose  that  men  defame. 
From  this,  if  rightly  I  discern, 

A  useful  lesson  we  may  learn: 
Small  things  we  never  should  despise, 

Nor  turn  our  nose  up  if  we're  wise. 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  131 

Poets  twelve  centuries  and  more 

Have  used  the  goose's  wing  to  soar, 
For  favors  thus  received  they  slander, 

And  pluck  both  every  goose  and  gander. 
Of  late  bards  have  so  multiplied, 

With  quills  they  ne'er  could  be  supplied, 
Besides,  'tis  fitting — all  must  feel — 

An  iron  age  should  write  with  steel. 


JUBILATI. 

COMPOSED  FOR  THE  OBERLIN   STUDENT'S  MONTHLY,   DECEMBER,   1859. 
EMILY  C.   HUNTINGTON  MILLER,   '57. 

If  all  the  stars  of  the  summer  sky, 

And  all  the  beauty  that  fills  the  eye 

Were  woven  in  one  picture  of  wondrous  hue, 

With  the  gold  of  the  sunbeam  shining  through — 

It  never  one-half  so  fine  could  be, 

As  the  picture  my  own  heart  paints  for  me— 

As  the  picture  my  own  heart  paints  for  me. 

If  all  the  songs  that  were  ever  sung. 

Were  mingled  and  blended  into  oneT 

And  chanted  dreamily,  soft  and  low, 

By  a  witching  voice  with  a  silver  flow — 

It  never  one-half  so  sweet  could  be, 

As  the  songs  that  nry  own  heart  sings  for  me — 

As  the  songs  that  my  own  heart  sings  for  me. 

If  the  starry  realm  with  its  haunted  streams, 

Which  the  young  heart  sees  in  its  rosy  dreams, 

Were  filled  with  the  hopes  of  waking  hours, 

And  wreathed  with  the  green  earth's  richest  flowers, 

It  never  one-half  so  bright  could  be, 

As  the  future  my  own  heart  paints  for  me — 

As  the  future  my  own  heart  paints  for  me. 

* 

The  names  appended  to  the  following  poems  were  well  known  to 
the  readers  of  the  Review  for  1878  and  1879,  especially.  W.  W. 
Fay,  W.  H.  Buss,  B.  A.  Imes,  Eva  L.  Emery,  Vincent  of  '81,  Vickery, 
C.  S.  Wood  and  many  others  will  be  well  remembered  by  Oberlin  stu- 
dents as  worshipers  who  kept  alive  the  flames  upon  the  altars  of 
Erato  and  Calliope. 


132  OBERLINIANA. 

RETURNING. 

EVA    L.    EMERY  DYE,    '82. 

Not  of  knights  and  deeds  of  battle 
Sing  the  bards  of  modern  time; 

Not  of  castles  foe-beleagured, 

Do  they  weave  romantic  rhyme, — 

But  of  peace  whose  mellow  music 
Blends  with  life's  unceasing  chime. 

Clearer  comes  the  waking  chorus, 
Caught  from  Eden's  first  refrain, 

Pouring  love  upon  each  grievance, 
Binding  balm  upon  each  pain, — 

All  humanity  is  marching- 
Back  to  brotherhood  again. 

(Oberlin  Review,  December  25,  '78.) 

A  SIMPLE  EVENING  SONG. 

From  the  German  of  Uhlig. 

TRANSLATED  BY  PROFESSOR  MORGAN. 

Once  again  clay's  hours 
All  have  taken  flight; 

On  the  area  of  heaven 
Ready  stands  the  night. 

So  we  know  completed, 
One  more  day's  employ; 

And  to  rest  we  turn  us, 

Rest  and  quiet  joy. 
*  *  * '  * 

Join  the  trusted  circle, 
Each  with  cheerful  heart, 

So  with  gentle  footstep 
Eventide  depart. 

Lovely  peace,  delight  us 
With  thy  sweetest  smile; 

Holy  love,  enchant  us, 
Woe  and  care  beguile. 

Then  the  wearied  members 
Give  to  slumber  blest, 

Till  the  morning  sunshine 
Lauohs  us  from  our  rest. 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  133 

(Oberlin  Review,  Feb  6th,  '78.) 
BENEATH. 

W.    W.    FAY,   '81. 

Beneath  the  ice-bound  Delaware 

You  see 
An  eager  stream  both  pure  and  strong: 
Beneath  a  man's  surface  rough  and  bare 

May  be 
A  stream  of  love  that  thinks  us  wrong. 
Time  enough  then  to  judge  a'nd  sneer 

When  we 
Know  that  which  now  we  only  guess; 
Quite  soon  enough  for  thee  to  fear 

The  sea 
When  it  shall  threaten  thy  success. 
* 

-X-  * 

(Oberlin  Review,  Feb.    20th,  1878.) 

AFTER  READING  "BENEATH." 
W.  J.   VICKERY,  '81. 

When  on  the  fettered  Delaware 

You  see 
The  sun  of  Springtime  smile, 
The  ice -bands  loose  their  wintry  snare. 

So  he 
With  rough  exterior,  erewhile 
The  warmth  of  love  doth  stream, 

May  melt 
The  uncouth  covering  of  his  heart ; 
The  beauty  of  the  sea's  bright  gleam 

Is  felt 
When  moonlight  melts  the  clouds  apart. 


(From  the  Review  for  Oct.  3d,  1877.) 
VALE,  ALMA  MATER. 

SONG  OF  '77. 
R.   A.    IMES,   '77. 

From  the  friends  we  love  and  scenes  so  dear 
From  our  pleasant  toil  and  daily  cheer, 


134  OBERLINIANA. 

We  turn  at  last  to  take  our  way, 
For  now  has  come  the  parting  day. 
Alma  Mater,  farewell, 

Adieu !    Adieu ! 
Peace  be  with  thee 
Farewell ! 

Instructors  true,  as  now  we  part, 

We  offer  thanks  of  grateful  hearts, 
And  first  shall  hold  in  memory's  claim 
Each  honored,  well  remembered  name. 
Alma  Mater,  farewell, 

Adieu !    Adieu ! 
Long  life  to  thee, 
Farewell ! 

Dear  Alma  Mater,  joy  to  thee, 

And  future  bright,  with  large  success. 
We'll  cherish  thy  prosperity, 
And  ever  rise  thy  name  to  bless. 
Alma  Mater,  farewell, 

Adieu!    Adieu! 
Beloved  home 
Farewell ! 


ODE  TO  OBERLIN. 

SELECTION  PROM  THE  COMMENCEMENT  POEM  OF  W.   H.   BUSS,   '79. 

Born  of  the  Spirit  of  God 

Shed  o'er  this  world  abroad; 
Christened  with  prayer 
In  the  silent  woods,  and  the  stranger  air; 
Fostered  by  shepherds  whose  spiritual  sight 

Saw  in  thy  radiant  face 

The  light  of  heavenly  grace, 
A  rising  star  o'er  sin's  appalling  night, 

Oberlin,  thee  I  sing; 
From  theme  so  nobly  pure  let  inspiration  spring! 

Thy  rare  historic  page 
Doth  reverent  thought  engage ! 
Deep  in  my  soul 
I  feel  thy  course  hath  been  of  God's  control; 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  135 

And  onward  far  my  faith  doth  lead, 

And  paints  tlry  future  bright 

With  farther  reaching  light, 
And  thy  fair  form  from  every  fetter  freed. 

Then  let  my  song  of  thee 
Reveal  what  thou  hast  been,  and  what  'tis  thine  to  be. 

From  source  of  fragrant  fame 

Arose  thine  honored  name, 
John  Oberlin; 
Thy  pastor,  patriot,  strong  in  God  to  win 
With  patient,  ceaseless  toil,  the  souls  of  men  from  sin. 

And  thou,  his  mighty  namesake,  hast  been  led 

Through  many  devious  ways 

To  work  Jehovah's  praise, 
Thy  labor,  too,  with  self-denial  wed; 

For  God  through  thee  did  send 
Deep  truth  the  darkened  world  was  slow  to  comprehend. 
*  *  *  *  * 

But  in  that  light,'  new  born, 

Of  purer  truth,  the  morn, 
The  eyes  of  men  beheld 
Night's  deadly  growths  revealed,  but  not  expelled. 
Ay,  men  beheld  fair  Freedom's  shackled  form; 

Within  the  realm,  her  own, 

They  heard  the  bondman's  groan. 
Then  gathered  there  the  truth-revenging  storm ! 

And  braving  taunt  and  ban, 
In  patient  strivings  for  the  rights  of  man, 
My  Alma  Mater,  thou  stoodst  foremost  in  the  van ! 

Yea,  in  thy  feeble  youth. 

Didst  battle  for  the  truth ; 
For  Freedom  boldly  spoke 
Long  ere  the  tempest  of  God's  anger  broke, 
Nor  failed  his  standard  in  the  deadly  hour, 

When  slavery's  haughty  horde 

Was  smitten  of  the  Lord, 
And  Freedom  stood  unchained  forevermore. 

Then,  having  wept  tjiy  slain, 
Didst  turn  with  humble  zeal  to  peaceful  toils  again. 


136  OBERLINIANA. 

Nor  e'er  have  known  surcease 

Thy  victories  of  peace, 
Thy  country  not  alone, 
Hath  prestige  reaped,  thine  holy  arm  hath  sown; 
Thy  sons  equipped  not  more  in  mind  than  heart, 

On  every  sea  and  shore, 

The  realms  of  sin  explore, 
And  heavenly  freedom  to  the  bound  impart, 

Who,  of  its  joys  possessed, 
In  every  clime  arise,  and  call  thy  memory  blest. 
*  *  *  #  *  *  * 

O,  born  of  heaven,  now 

Renew  thy  loyal  vow ! 
Thou  who  hast  led 
Truth's  valiant  armies  on,  be  still  their  head! 
The  spirit's  sword  be  might  in  thy  hand! 

Thy  glorious  shield  of  faith 

Save  multitudes  from  death ! 
O'er  all  the  earth  the  reign  of  Christ  expand, 
Till  sin  no  more  shall  gracious  truth  withstand ! 

Then  shall  thy  work  be  done, 
Thy  mission  then  achieved,  thy  crown  eternal  won. 

The  author  of  this  chapter  was  unable  to  persuade   the   writer  of 
the  two  following  pieces  to  permit  the  use  of  his  name: 

THE   VICTORY. 

She  was  plump  and  soft  and  fair, 

He  was  young  and  active; 
She  was  graced  with  beauty  rare, 

He  not  unattractive. 
Rich  with  life  so  fresh  and  warm, 

Who  would  not  discover, 
That,  soul-feasting  on  her  form, 
Soon  he  learned  to  love  her? 
She,  instead,  despised  him;  still, 

Thinking  none  could  match  him 
To  discharge  a  lengthy  bill, 

She  resolved  to  catch  him, 
So,  her  action  shrewdly  planned, 

Lest  some  slip  de-feet  her, 
Raising  high  her  jeweled  hand, 

Caught  she  that  muskeeter 

Buzzing  'round  to  eat  her! 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  137 

THE  BROKEN  SONG. 

A  form  was  nestling  by  my  side, 

A  song  was  trembling  on  the  air; 
O  would  that  form  might  e'er  abide 

That  song  be  ever  throbbing  there ! 

A  voice  was  heard:    "  Not  now,"  she  cried, 

"  Some  other  time  I'll  finish,  John." 
Then  fawn  like,  fled;  I  sadly  sighed, 

The  song  was  hushed,  my  birdling  gone. 

The  years  flew  on;  a  nameless  smart 

I  knew  but  naught  of  good  or  ill; 
Yet  in  my  numb  and  aching  heart 

That  song  was  trembling,  throbbing  still. 

One  day  the  form  came  back,  but  brought 

Time-silvered  locks  and  wrinkled  brow; 
With  weary  smile  my  hand  she  sought, 

And  whispered,  "John,  I'll  finish  now." 


The  author  of  the  preceding  two  poems  was  unable  to  persuade 
the  editor  of  this  chapter  to  affix  his  name  to  the  following 
poem,  of  which   he  was  the    author,    so  it    also  appears    anony- 


mously. 


BEFORE  AND  AFTER. 

BEFORE. 


I  sail  through  storm,  I  sail  through  calm  and  ever  sadly  onward  sail; 
One  form  I  seek  o'er  all  the  seas  nor  ever  in  my  purpose  fail. 
I  cannot  rest;  my  soul  opprest  doth  ever  urge  me  on  and  on — 
On  river,  lake  and  inland  sea,  from  morn  till  night,  from  dark  till  dawn. 
I  seek  a  face  that  years  agone  had  brought  great  longing  to  my  heart. 
From  dreams  of  sleep,  from  thoughts  of  da}^  that  vision  never  will 

depart. 
To  purchase  peace,  to  still  unrest — this  is  the  object  of  my  quest, 
And  I  will  sail  and  I  will  search  till  to  my  heart  that  face  is  prest. 

AFTER. 

As  slave  who  delves,  and  delves  to  find  the  yellow  gold  and  spark- 
ling gem, 
And  suffers  pain  and  every  want  to  fill  a  monarch's  diadem; 


138  OBERLINIANA. 

And  having  found  a  jewel  rare  comes  forth  to  light  and  life  unbound, 
While  everything  of  nature  holds  a  charm  which  ne'er  before  was 

found — 
So  I  can  hear  this  glorious  day  from  bird,  from  tree,  from  sea  from 

shore 

An  endless,  happy,  wordless  song — a  song  of  love  not  heard  before, 
For  I  have  found  the  long  sought  face — and  we  shall  part,  ah!  nev- 
ermore. 


(Dedicated  to  Rev.  John  Morgan.) 

SONNE  T. 

SIGHTLESS,  THEY  SEE. 


'"Eyes  have  they  but  they  see  not"  said  the  Son 
Of  Man  to  those  who  fain  would  shun  the  light, 
Eyes  that  behold  with  but  a  sightless  sight, 
Eyes  that  the  mountain  summits  never  won. 
Yet  some  are  blind  and  see.     The  sightless  balls 
Of  Milton  pierced  the  terrible  abyss 
Of  hell,  and  with  those  awful  eyes  of  his 
He  gazed  on  heaven,  beyond  the  jasper  walls. 
Homer,  tho'  blind,  saw  infinitely  more 
Than  all  the  hosts  he  sung  beleaguering  Troy, 
For  he  beheld,  with  all  a  poet's  joy, 
"  The  light  that  never  was  on  sea  or  shore." 
'■  Eyes  have  they  but  they  see  not."     Might  not  we 
See  deeper  things  had  we  no  eyes  to  see? 


(Oberlin  Review,  August  1875.) 
HAND  IN  HAND. 

c.  s.  wood,  '75. 

Low  lying  hills  against  a  hazy  sky, 

A  misty  reach  of  river  intervening, 
One  solitary  crow  flaps  slowly  by, 

And  caws  a  gusty  shout  replete  with  meaning: 
An  aged  oak  bent  forward  as  if  leaning 

To  kiss  the  water  gurgling  at  its  feet, 
Tall  rushes  nod,  the  river  ripples  nigh ; 

This  is  the  framing  for  the  picture  sweet. 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  139 

A  lovely  form  bathed  in  the  mellow  light 

Rests  listlessly  against  the  oak  so  olden, 
And  with  a  double  glory  is  bedight, 

Of  golden  sunbeams  and  of  tresses  golden,    • 
She  by  the  noble  youth  is  there  beholden. 

Who  stands  before  hjpr  fain  to  kiss  her  feet. 
He  is  a  haughty  lord,  a  stately  knight, 

And  she  a  lowly  maiden  fair  and  sweet. 

With  haunted  eyes  she  gazes  in  his  face, 

Soft  liquid  eyes  tilled  witli  all  fond  beseachiug. 
With  stifled  groan  he  turns  to  leave  the  place, 

He  hears  her  sobs,  he  sees  her  hands  outstretching. 
Forgetting  then  his  haughty  father's  teaching, 

Forgetting  all  save  his  o'erweening  love 
He  clasps  her  to  his  heart  in  fond  embrace, 

While  glimmering  stars  come  faintly  out  above. 

The  sun  sinks  low  behind  the  distant  hills, 

Upon  the  misty  river  shadow's  falling, 
A*'parting  gleam  the  oak's  old  summit  fills 

With  glory,  now  the  crow  has  ceased  his  cawing, 
The  purple  mist  along  the  stream  up-crawling. 

They  rise,  and  on  the  river's  margin  stand, 
And  as  the  evening  all  her  balm  distills. 

They  wander  through  the  meadows,  hand  in  hand. 


(Oberlin  Review  August,  1875.) 
A  GIFT. 

M.  W. 

A  tiny,  tiny  nosegay 

To  wear  upon  your  breast, 
I 'send  you  sweet  blossoms 
That  fairies'  lips  have  pressed. 

The  first  sweet  thing  within  it 
Is  a  loving  thought  of  you, 

That  rises  rich  and  tender, 
A  pansy  filled  with  dew. 

I  give  you  all  the  love,  dear, 
That  beats  within  my  heart; 

And  that's  a  red,  red  rosebud 
With  petals  just  apart. 


140  OBERL1NIANA. 

A  rose- geranium  leaflet, 

A  spicy,  sweet-souled  thing, 

I  choose  you  from  all  others, 
O  love,  to  be  my  king. 

Now  you've  the  fond  remembrance, 
The  homage  reverent, 

The  love — so  sweet  a  nosegay 
To  friend  is  rarely  sent. 

And  if  you'll  only  wear  it 
Upon  your  heart  for  aye, 

'Twill  be  as  sweet  forever 
As  it  has  been  to-day. 


(Oberlin  Review,  Mar.  1875.) 
THE  SONG  AND  THE  SINGER, 

c.  s.  wood,  '75. 

I  hold  it  wrong 

To  judge  a  song 
By  measure  of  the  singer ; 

The  sweetest  chime 

Swings  out  of  time 
When  rung  by  careless  ringer; 

And  clashing  bells 

Their  angry  swells 
Subdue  to  mellow  measure, 

When  by  the  word 

Of  master  stirred 
They  ring  in  woe  or  pleasure. 

Suppose  a  bird 

Should  now  be  heard 
To  chant  among  the  rushes 

Some  wild  sweet  air; 

Should  I  declare 
That  song  must  be  a  thrush's? 

Or  shall  I  say 

Without  delay, 
The  notes  are  sweet  and  ringing, 

That  song  is  prayer 

No  matter  where, 
Or  what  the  bird,  that's  singing? 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  141 

And  shall  I  say 

The  paroquet 
Sings  sweeter  than  the  linnet, 

Than  sober  coat 

A  scarlet  throat 
Must  have  more  music  in  it? 

Ah,  no!  for  shame, 
"What's  in  a  name?" 

The  linnet  small  and  lowly, 
May  sing  a  song- 
More  clear  and  strong, 

And  pure,  and  sweet,  and  holy. 

Poor  Robbie  Burns 

Is  said  by  turns 
uTo  hae  got  unco'  happy" — 

Yet  grander  song 

Yrou'd  search  for  long 
Than  he  made  o'er  the  "  nappy." 

That  song  is  grand, 

Its  truth  will  stand 
Forever  and  forever. 

The  man  though  weak, 

Found  strength  to  speak 
Great  truths,  forgotten  never. 

And  so  I  hold 
It  true  as  gold, 

(Because  of  careless  ringer,) 
That  it  is  wrong- 
To  judge  a  song 

By  measure  of  the  singer. 


(Oberlin  Review,  Nov.  12,  1881.) 

THE  COLLEGIAN'S  FOUR  STAGES. 

(Written  for  the  College  Song-Book.) 

AUTHOR    UNKNOWN. 

Air — "  Yankee  Doodle." 
With  youthful  grace,  as  Freshmen  first, 

Both  tender  et  verides, 
To  Alma  Mater's  skirts  we  cling, 

In  "  infant  "  grace  and  fides. 


142  OBERLINIANA, 

Chorus — Now  great  Apollo  lend  thy  aid ; 

With  "B.  A.r  crown  our  labors; 
And  fitting  sacrifice  we'll  bring 
Cum  lyra,  pipes  and  tabors. 

The  Sophomores  we  next  behold, 

( Capillas  nicely  curling) 
Embarked,  sans  doute,  on  learning's'  sea, 

And  every  sail  unfurling. 

The  Junior  comes,  per  pony  post,— 

Hat,  cane,  th'  impedimenta; 
While  Latin,  Greek  and  other  lore 

Perchance  non  sunt  inventa. 
Chorus — Now  great  Apollo  lend  etc. 

At  last,  the  Senior,  but  not  least, 
While  all  applaud,  admiring, 

Makes  his  exit,  dubbed  "A.  B.". 
To  mighty  deeds  aspiring. 

And  now,  is  reached  the  wished-for  goal, 

And  vanished  cares  that  troubled — 
"M.  D.,"  "  A.  M.,"  may  be  in  store- 
Perhaps  a  big  D  doubled. 
Chorus — Now  great  Apollo  lend  thine  aid, 
With  "  B.  A.,"  on  our  labors, 
A  fitting  sacrifice  will  bring 
Cum  lyra,  pipes  and  tabors. 

(Oberlin  Review,  May,  1883.) 
ON  A  FROST  IN  MAY. 

L.  J.    GARVER. 

Winter  kissed  fair  Spring  last  night, 
And  she  shivered  with  affright — 
For  his  lips  were  chill  and  white. 

And  his  cold  breath  froze  her  blood, 
Till  like  winding  sheet  she  stood 
On  the  fields  and  in  the  wood. 

Yes,  he  crept  up  in  the  night. 
Like  a  thief,  and  took  his  flight 
At  the  dawn  of  morning  light. 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  143 

(Oberiin  Review,  May  1883.) 
THE  OLD  LABORATORY. 

SHERMAN  FITCH,   '85. 

Lament  this  lost  memorial  of  our  birth! 

An  old-time  pile,  where  chemist  Dascomb  wrought, 

And  fathers  Finney,  Mahan,  Fairchild  taught, 

Rudely  defaced  and  levelled  to  the  earth ! 

Beneath  this  ancient  roof  daughters  of  mirth 

And  beauty,  and  sons  of  loftiest  aim, 

Together  trod  the  rugged  paths  of  Fame 

And  Wisdom's  triumphs  won.    There  was  no  dearth 

Of  learning  or  of  reason  in  the  stream 

Which  flowed  forth  from  that  pure,  paternal  source, 

To  swell  the  tide  of  Alma  Mater's  strength,  or  dream 

An  aeon  since,  but  now  a  living  Force! 

But  though  this  Hall,  coeval  with  our  past, 

Disgraced  relic  is — 'tis  not  the  last ! 


(Oberiin  Review  May,  1883.) 
TAPPAN  HALL. 

L.  J.   GAKVER. 

Mysterious  monument  of  other  days. 

That  like  Egyptian  pyramids,  doth  tell 
Of  dead  and  buried  ages — as  we  gaze 

Upon  its  form,  our  hearts  with  wonder  swell ! 
The  winds  and  rains  have  beat  upon  its  sides, 

The  angry  lightnings  played  about  its  brow, 
And,  like  a  ship  that  through  the  tempest  rides. 

It  stands  before  us  sadl}r  shattered  now. 
Yet  it  holds  many  pleasant  memories, 

Like  bright  dreams  locked  up  in  the  walls  of  sleep, 
For  those  whose  home  it  was  in  other  days, 

Who  will  return  in  a  short  time  to  weep 
Sweet  tears  of  gratitude  while  thinking  of 

The  happy  hours  they  courted  Science  here, 
Or  wooed  Philosophy,  or  fell  in  love 

With  Poesy,  of  all  the  three,  most  fair. 
As  an  old  man,  baffling  the  storms  of  life, 

Sinks  suddenly  in  death  beside  the  way, 
So,  in  the  midst  of  elemental  strife, 

This  sacred  edifice  will  fall  some  day 


144  OBERLINIANA. 

If  'tis  not  soon  laid  down  by  hands  of  men 
But  let  no  ruthless  hands  tear  it  away ; 

For  noble  were  the  builders  of  it  then — 
Far  back  within  that  ancient,  holy  day. 


SONG. 

From  the  German  of  Heine. 
E.  h.  breck,  '85. 

Heart,  my  heart,  be  not  despondent, 
But  in  patience  bear  thy  fate; 

What  the  winter  rough  has  taken 
Mayest  thou  in  spring  await. 

Think  how  much  has  still  been  left  thee, 

And  thy  world  is  still  how  fair ! 
And,  my  heart,  whatever  pleases 
May'st  thou  love  without  a  care. 

* 

■X-  * 

(Oberlin  Review  February  25,  1882.) 

FORGET  ME  NOT. 

(A  tale  of  the  old  time.) 

E.  h.  breck,  '85. 

Long  ages  ago  in  the  sweet  month  of  May, 

A  knight  and  a  lady  were  walking  one  day, 

On  the  banks  of  a  beautiful  stream, 

When  afore  her  eye  spied, 

On  the  furthermost  side, 

The  glint  of  a  blossom,  its  glitter  and  gleam. 

A  wish  from  her  lip  was  a  word  of  command, 

A  kiss  on  her  lip  and  lie  sprang  from  the  land 

To  capture  the  blossom  of  blue, 

But  the  eddies  closed  black 

As  he  flung  the  prize  back — 

"Forget  me  not,  lady,  I  perish  for  you." 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  145 

'82  CLASS  SONG. 

EVA    L.    EMERY    DYE. 

Octogcnta  Duo- 

Alma  Mater,  semper  cara, 

Dulcis  ad  discipulos, 

Tuas  laudes  nos  cantamus 

Gauditer  ad  populos. 

Chorus — O  Fortuna  generosa! 
Brevis,  laeta,  studiosa, 

Vita  in  collegio, 
Te  salutat  jubliosa 
Octoginta  duo. 

Juniores  exhibemus 

Summam  sapientiam, 
Nunc  ad  linguas  eloquentes 

Date  audientiam. 

Cho. — O  Fortuna,  etc. 

Age!  fratres  et  sorores, 

Victa  sunt  gravissima, 
Docti  summus  Juniores, 

Rerum  in  scientia. 
Cho. — O  Fortuna,  etc. 

Doctrinre  philosophoruni, 

Artes  mathematics, 
Nobis  facultatem  addunt 

Permulta  cognoscere. 
Cho. — 0  Fortuna,  etc. 

Beata  ad  professores, 

Duces  admirabiles, 
Qui  in  corda  nobis  ponnnt 

Disciplinas  nobiles-. 
Cho. — O  Fortuna,  etc. 

Ubi  Dei  vox  vocabit 

Nos  in  vita  morteve, 
Alma  Mater,  ad  te  amor 

Durabit  florescere. 

Cho. — O  Fortuna,  etc. 


146  OBERLINIANA. 

'83  CLASS  SONG. 

C.  DE  W.  B. 

Gladly  we  praise  thee, 
To  thee  all  praise  is  due, 
To  thee  devotion  true, 

Dear  '83. 
Thy  name,  soul  stirring  word, 
Will  o'er  the  earth  be  heard; 
Borne  by  thy  children's  love 

Dear  '83. 

Under  thy  banner 
Many  the  battles  fought, 
Many  the  lessons  taught, 

In  college  days; 
Many  the  halcyon  times 
Singing  our  heartfelt  rhymes. 
Binding  our  souls  as  one 

In  love  to  thee. 

Our  college  we  sing; 
To  her  our  best  we  bring 
And  far  the  challenge  flingy 

For  Oberlin. 
Deep  graven  on  each  heart, 
Her  truths  shall  ne'er  depart,. 
She  is  our  guiding  star 

To  purity. 

Though  fast  the  time  fly 
Never  will  frienship  die, 
Never  will  break  the  tie 

Of  '83. 
These  halls  we'll  ne'er  forget 
Nor  classmates  often  met; 
They'll  hold  eternal  place 

In  memory. 


CLASS  SONG,  '84 

O.   L.  COOK,    '84. 

College  home,  thy  praise  we  sing. 

Guardians  of  thy  noble  fame; 
Round  our  hearts  will  ever  cling, 

The  fond  mem'ries  of  thy  name. 


OBERLIN  POETRY.  147 

Thy  time  star  shall  be  our  guide, 

Through  the  years  that  lie  before. 
And  thy  greatness  still  our  pride, 

Cherished  home  of  '84. 

Chorus — Forward,  classmates,  forward,  ever, 
Hope  may  soar  on  tireless  wing. 
If  we  still  in  each  endeavor, 
(Pipovreq  Ntxd)/j.e<;,  sing. 

Alma  Mater,  thee  we  praise, 

For  the  truth  and  precepts  taught, 
For  the  joys  of  college  days; 

They  shall  never  be  forgot. 
Ne'er  shall  break  the  ties  that  bind, 

'84  in  friendship  true, 
Closer,  be  our  hearts  entwined, 

Though  we  soon  must  bid  adieu. 

Soon  will  close  this  college  life; 

Soon  must  sterner  work  begin. 
How  'twill  cheer  the  battle  strife, 

Mem'ry  dear  of  Oberlin! 
Trial  or  tempest  ne'er  shall  turn 

One  stout  heart  from  paths  of  right, 
Though  for  rest  our  hearts  may  yearn, 

Who  would  falter  in  the  fight  ? 

Part  we  must  the  toil  to  share, 

In  the  untried  strife  to  come, 
Honor's  crown  some  brows  may  wear, 

Fortune's  frown  may  rest  on  some. 
Forward  then,  be  our  command, 

Forward,  till  at  heaven's  door, 
Reunited  we  shall  stand, 

Everyone  of  '84. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


FLOTSAM    AND    JETSAM. 


pleasant  story  is  told  about  Principal  Fairchild,  which  illus- 
trates the  copious  vein  of  humor  in  his  make-up.  A  student 
was  reciting  a  formula  in  one  of  his  classes,  and  stumbled  at 
the  point  where  the  words  "preserve  the  principle"  should 
follow.  Becoming  confused,  he  hesitated  and  stammered. 
In  the  meanwhile  a  youth  in  the  class,  who  afterwards  became 
quite  a  prominent  pencil  artist,  was  seized  with  a  bright  idea. 
He  was  almost  faultless  at  caricature,  and  he  rapidly  drew  a  picture 
of  a  pickle  jar,  with  the  unmistakable  face  of  Principal  Fairchild 
within,  but  all  shriveled  up.  This  cartoon  he  passed  about  the 
room,  producing  thereby  uproarious  merriment.  Every  one  recog- 
nized the  "  Principal  preserved,11  and  the  laughter  was  irrepressible. 
Mr.  Fairchild  demanded  the  paper  when  he  caught  sight  of  it.  As 
he  glanced  at  it.  the  humorous  qualities  of  the  little  sketch  quite 
overcame  him,  and  he  collapsed  into  a  fit  of  ungovernable  laughter 
with  the  rest. 

"Why,"  said  an  alumnus,  in  relating  the  affair,  "he  laughed  so 
long  and  so  violently  that  we  were  almost  scared.  And  even  after 
the  lesson  had  been  resumed,  he  would  break  out  afresh  every  now 
and  then,  as  he  recalled  the  appearance  of  the  ludicrous  caricature." 

*  * 

It  was  actually  deemed  a  sin,  by  some,  in  the  days  of  restricted 
diet,  to  pamper  the  stomach  with  dainty  viands.  Once  a  girl  received 
a  box  from  home  during  that  period,  containing  some  good  whole- 
some food  which  could  only  be  called  rich  by  contrast  with  the  hall 
board.  She  called  in  two  classmates.  One  of  them  hesitated  for 
a  time  on  moral  grounds,  but  finally  nibbled  a  little  at  a  doughnut. 
It  tasted  so  good  that  she  finally  ate  several  more.  Then  she  sud- 
denly became  conscience-stricken  at  the  enormity  of  her  guilt  and 
said: 

"  Oh,  girls,  it  was  wrong,  I  am  sure  it  was.  It  did  taste  awful 
good;  but  it's  all  over  now,  and  I  feel  sure  that  it  was  wicked." 


FLOTSAM  AND  JETSAM.  149 

They  discussed  the  matter  for  awhile,  and  all  three  concluded 
that  the  best  thing  they  could  do  was  to  pray  over  the  matter.  So 
they  got  down  on  their  knees  and  asked  to  be  forgiven  if  in  eating 
the  doughnuts  they  had  offended  even  in  a  small  degree !  This  was 
an  abnormal  sensitiveness  of  conscience,  doubtless,  and  was  an  ex- 
ceptional case.  Good  sense  moderated,  for  the  most  part,  even  these 
eccentricities  of  early  life  here  which  we  of  to-day  cannot  under- 
stand. Besides,  it  must  be  remembered  that  this  same  experimental 
diet-craze  extended  practically  all  over  the  country,  and  excited 
attention  in  most  of  the  Eastern  cities.  A  similar  sensitiveness  of 
conscience  now-a-days  would  doubtless  be  better  than  the  illiberal 
liberalism  which  is  so  widely  prevalent. 

From  1842  to  1853  Nelson  W.  Hodge  was  instructor  in  Prepara- 
tory Latin  and  Greek.  Early  students  will  remember  him  and  his 
fun-loving  peculiarities  about  as  vividly  as  anything  connected 
with  their  college  life.  He  was  an  inveterate  punster,  and  it  was 
easy  to  tell  when  some  ridiculous  sally  was  coming  by  the  way  in 
which  he  cocked  his  head,  and  the  quizzical  expression  of  his  one 
eye — (he  lost  the  other  in  childhood.)  In  repartee  he  was  almost 
.peerless.  At  the  same  time  that  he  was  so  irrepressibly  jolly  and 
witty,  he  could  lash  with  his  tongue  unmercifully  if  occasion  re- 
quired. Thus  the  term  "  hodging  "  became  early  incorporated  into 
the  Oberlin  vernacular  to  indicate  a  severe  and  sarcastic  verbal 
arraignment. 

There  was  no  subject  and  no  occasion  which  was  proof  against 
his  banter,  and  especially  his  puns.  Occasionally,  but  very  seldom, 
a  student  would  get  even  with  him.  Once  a  youth  named  Walker, 
— now  a  well  known  alumnus — gave  him  the  "  retort  courteous  " 
after  his  own  fashion.  Walker  had  alwa}Ts  asserted  that  if  ever 
Tutor  Hodge  made  him  the  butt  of  any  of  his  puns,  he  would  give 
him  as  good  as  he  got.  Accordingly  one  day  he  was  called  up  after 
there  had  been  considerable  trouble  over  a  certain  passage. 

"I  believe  3^011  have  quite  a  record  as  a  pedestrain,"  said  Tutor 
Hodge,  dryly;  "  Won't  you  walk  into  that  passage  and  see  if  you 
can  straighten  it  out?" 

"Really,  Tutor  Hodge,"  said  Walker,  without  the  faintest  trace 
of  a  smile,  "  such  a  Hodge-podge  has  been  made  of  the  passage 
already  that  I  do  not  feel  equal  to  the  task." 


The  students  of  to-day  may  be  interested  to  know  the  history  of 
our  college  bells.     The  first  one  came  in  1834,  and  was  swung  be- 


•150  OBERLINIANA. 

tween  two  stumps  at  the  east  end  of  the  boarding  hall.  S.  S.  Daniels, 
of  the  class  of  '44  was  the  firsjt  bell-ringer.  Afterwards  the  same 
bell  was  placed  on  the  roof  of  Colonial  Hall,  which  served  as  Chapel 
at  that  time,  and  did  service  until  1860  or  thereabouts.  Then  the 
Musical  Union  purchased  the  present  bell  for  the  newly  erected 
Chapel,  and  the  old  one  was  turned  over  to  the  Union  School,  where 
it  now  tinkles  cheerfully  every  day.  This  first  bell,  even  when  it 
surmounted  Colonial  Hall,  was  without  a  belfry,  and  of  very  light 
sound.  President  Finney  is  said  to  have  remarked  with  reference 
to  it  once  that  it  made  "  about  as  much  noise  as  a  squirrel's  tail  in 
a  plush  cap." 

The  present  bell  has  quite  a  reputation  for  purity  of  tone.  It  has 
certainly  enjoyed  a  wonderful  career  of  usefulness.  It  has 
tolled  as  solemn  funeral  processions  wended  their  way  toward  the 
cemetery;  it  has  performed  this  sad  service  in  behalf  of  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Dascomb,  Mr.  Finney,  Prof.  Mead,  and  man}^  others.  It  has 
rung  out  joyfully  the  tidings  of  Republican  triumph  at  the  polls. 
It  has  sounded  its  paean  at  Union  victories  in  the  late  war.  It 
pealed  forth  the  universal  rejoicing  at  the  Proclamation  of  Emanci- 
pation. It  has  given  forth  the  warning  in  case  of  fire  in  the  village. 
It  has  rudely  terminated  interviews  in  the  reception-rooms  of  Ladies1 
Hall.  It  has"  relieved  the  suspense  of  thousands  of  students  who' 
were  afraid  they  would  be  called  upon  next  in  class.  In  short,  it 
has  enjoyed  a  wide  range  of  diverse  experiences.  May  it  ring  on 
and  on  for  many  years  to  come, — its  tones  growing  more  mellow  and 
.more  freighted  with  precious  associations  year  by  year. 

*  * 

President  Fairchild  has  a  way  of  saying  a  thing  which  carries 
with  it  great  force — perhaps  because  every  one  knows  that  what  he 
says  is  always  well  weighed  beforehand.  Accordingly  upon  the 
very  rare  cases  where  he  indulges  in  even  mild  sarcasm,  his  words 
leave  an  ineffaceable  rebuke.  Many  students  will  remember  an  oc- 
casion back  in  '77  or  thereabouts  when  two  students  engaged  in  a 
personal  encounter,  the  one  a  popular  candidate  for  exhibition  hon- 
ors, and  the  other  a  universally  obnoxious  member  of  the  same  class. 
The  Faculty  decided  that  the  former  student  could  not  serve  as 
orator,  and  the  President  made  an  announcement  in  measured,  dig- 
nified tones,  somewhat  as  follows: 

"We  feel  compelled  to  remove  the  honor  upon  Mr.  X.  As.  Mr.  Q. 
has  no  honor  to  be  forfeited,  the  punishments  must  appear  to  be 
disproportionate.' ' 

No  one  could  say  whether  or  not  President  Fairchild  was  pur- 
posely ambiguous,  judging  from  his  grave  face  and  serious  manner. 


FLOTSAM  AND  JETSAM.  151 

111  very  early  times  there  stood  a  sun-dial  between  Colonial  Hall . 
and  the  Ladies'  Hall,  near  where  the  Second  Church  now  stands. 
That  sun-dial  was  the  pride  of  the  town.  It  was  made  of  stone,  and 
came  to  be  in  a  sense  the  official  time-piece  of  the  town.  One  day  it 
was  discovered  that  it  had  been  broken,eviflently  shattered  by  a  stone. 
Then  there  was  great  perturbation  in  Oberlin.  The  community  was 
of  that  size  that  any  such  piece  of  vandalism  engaged  universal  at- 
tention. On  every  side  the  question  was  heard,  "  Who  broke  the 
sun-dial?''  In  his  sermon  on  the  following  Sabbath  President  Fin- 
ne}^  took  occasion  to  speak  about  the  great  wrong  it  is  to  injure  that 
which  belongs  to  another,  and  suddenly  looked  up  from  the  Bible 
in  his  peculiar,  abrupt  way,  and  asked  in  a  deep,  thrilling,  sepul- 
chral voice, 

"  Who  broke  the  sun-dial?" 

The  effect  was  electrical,  and  perhaps  had  the  culprit  been  there 
the  arrow  of  conviction  would  have  entered  his  soul  and  forced  him 
to  confess  then  and  there. 

But  the  whole  matter  was  shrouded  in  the  deepest  mystery,  and  it 
was  not  until  twenty  or  thirty  years  afterwards  that  the  secret  was 
solved.  Then  the  son  of  one  most  prominent  trustees  of  the  college 
acknowledged  that  he  had  performed  the  unhallowed  act  while 
a  toddling  child.  He  was  visiting  Oberlin,  and  was  stopping  at 
the  Ladies'  Hall,  where  his  mother  was  a  guest.  While  at  play  he 
threw  a  stone  which  did  the  mischief.  For  a  moment  he  stood  trans- 
fixed with  horror  at  the  ruin  he  had  wrought.  Then  he  rushed 
to  his  room,  crawled  under  the  bed  and  cried  himself  to  sleep.  Of 
course  he  did  not  want  to  confess  a  few  years  later,  in  view  of  the 
importance  attributed  to  the  affair. 


Shortly  after  President  Mahan's  arrival  as  he  was  preaching  one 
Sabbath  a  slightly  crazed  man  who  happened  to  be  in  the  audience 
rose  to  his  feet  and  exclaimed :  "  Step  down,  Brother,  and  give  me  a 
chance  to  talk." 

"  Sit  down  and  calm  yourself,"  said  the  President,  "  for  it  is 
written,  'The  spirits  of  the  prophets  are  subject  to  the  prophets.'  " 


An  old  student  relates  the  following  as  authentic; 

In  the  early  days  a  green  country  youth  appeared  one  day  in  the 
business  office  of  the  college,  and  after  staring  and  walking  about 
awhile,  asked  if  anybody  could  tell  him  where  Oberlin  college  was. 
He  said  he  had  been  in  town  two  days  and  hadn't  found  it  yet- 
When  told  that  he  was  then  in  the  sanctum  sanctorum  of  the  object 


152  0BERL1NIANA. 

of  his   search,  where   business    matters    were    attended  to,  he    was 
amazed,  and  staring  at  President  Fairchild  exclaimed, 

"  Goodness  gracious!  is  that  so?     Wall,  I  guess  I'd  like  to  jine." 

The  President's  venerable  countenance  lit  up  with  animated  pleas- 
ure at  the  thought  of  securing  another  student,  and  he  inquired 
which  of  the  various  branches  of  studies  he  would  like  to  pursue. 

"  Well,"  said  the  youth,  "I  guess  I'll  take  spellin'." 

Being  informed  that  he  would  be  expected  to  take,  two  more  studies 
he  said,  "I  guess  I'll  take  gogerfry." 

"Yes,"  said  the  President,  "We  teach  geography;  what  else  will 
you  study?" 

The  youth,  evidently  perplexed  for  an  answer,  arose  and  stood 
fingering  the  buttons  of  his  homespun  jacket,  while  staring  won- 
deringly  out  of  the  window,  and  repeating  to  himself  soto  voce: 

"  Spellin',  gogerfry,  spellin',  gogerfry-— yes,  I'll  do  it,  and  as- 
tonish dad."  And  turning  to  the  President  he  said:  "Wall,  I 
don't  know,  but  I  guess  I'll  take  theology." 

* 
*  * 

A  similar  incident  occurred  when  Professor  Peck  was  in  charge. 
The  young  applicant  was  asked  what  he  wanted  to  study.  "  Well, 
I'll  study  jometry  and  Latin,  and  I  guess  I'll  take  chronic  sections." 

The  Professor  advised  him  not  to  take  the  last  study  for  fear 
it  would  give  him  the  rheumatism. 


Some  of  the  girls  coming  to  the  institution  find  the  customary 
statement  of  their  age  a  cross.  Once  on  opening  day  a  young  (?) 
lady  refused  point  blank  to  comply  with  this  requirement.  The 
teacher  to  whom  the  refusal  was  made,  turned  to  Mrs.  Johnson  and 
explained  the  state  of  affairs. 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Johnston  dryly,  and  without  looking  up  from 
her  work  ;  "just  put  her  down  'venerable.'" 


In  extremely  primitive  clays,  it  was  esteemed  no  offense  to  mod 
ify  Scripture  passages  a  little,  so  as  to  give  them  a  distinct  appli- 
cation. At  one  time  provisions  had  been  missing  from  the 
larder  of  the  boarding  hall  quite  regularly  in  the  morning,  when 
the  matron  went  to  prepare  the  morning  repast.  Sentinels  were  ac 
cordingly  stationed  at  the  door  of  the  pantry  for  a  time  during  the 
night. 

A  former  student  tells  how  he  was   doodled  to  keep  guard  one 
night.     Getting  quite  hungry  before  morning,  he  peeped  in  at  the 


FLOTSAM  AND  JETSAM.  153 

well-laden  shelves.  There  was  nothing  which  he  could  safely  take 
except  a  slice  from  a  large,  tempting  cheese.  After  a  time  he  con- 
cluded to  make  the  experiment,  and  cut  off  a  slice  where  he  thought 
it  wouldn't  show.  The  next  morning  at  prayers,  when  they  were 
reciting  verses  according  to  their  custom,  the  matron  recited  as  fol- 
lows when  her  turn  came: 

"  Thou  that  teachest  thy  brother  not  to  steal,  dost  thou   steal  — 

CHEESE?" 

And  she  cast  a  searching  glance  at  the  astonished  culprit. 


An  amusing  story  is  told  by  Professor  Churchill.  Only  a  few 
years  ago  he  was  surveying  one  day  on  West  Lorain  street,  a  long 
distance  from  the  college.  Some  forms  could  be  distinguished 
playing  ball  on  the  Campus,  and  Mr.  Peck  asked  the  Professor 
whether  he  could  tell  who  they  were.  Turning  his  theodolite  upon 
the  players,  it  happened  to  rest  exactly  upon  the  pitcher  just  as  he 
was  raising  his  hand  to  his  mouth  to  take  a  chew  of  tobacco,  at  the 
same  time  banteringly  shaking  his  fist  at  Tappan  Hall !  The  face 
was  perfectly  familiar  to  the  observer  at  the  theodolite,  and  we  al- 
low the  result  to  remain  shrouded  in  impenetrable  mystery. 


Among  the  early  helpers  of  Oberlin,  among  the  few  who  appre- 
ciated the  work  and  gave  freely  of  their  abundance,  must  be  men- 
tioned Willard  Sears,  of  Boston,  who  for  many  years  gave  Mr.  Fin- 
ney what  support  he  received.  This  gentleman  was  a  thorough-going 
Abolitionist  and  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  David  Sears,  another 
wealthy  citizen  of  Boston,  but  of  opposite  political  belief.  Willard 
Sears  was  very  [much  of  a  philanthropist  and  in  after  years  re- 
marked that  during  his  prosperity  he  believed  that  Cod  couldn't  get 
along  without  him  very  well.  During  the  California  fever  of  '49  he 
loaded  two  ships  with  valuable  cargoes  for  the  mining  camps.  One 
arrived  safely  in  the  harbor,  but  during  the  night  the  sailors  de- 
parted in  a  body  for  the  mines.  The  captain  was  awakened  by  a 
tremendous  bumping,  and  running  on  deck  discovered  that  he  was 
colliding  with  another  ship  anchored  alongside,  the  crew  of  which 
had  likewise  deserted.  There  was  nothing  that  the  two  captains 
could  effect  unaided.  The  two  vessels  were  broken  up  and  the  car- 
goes lost.  As  the  insurance  expires  as  soon  as  anchor  is  cast  Mr. 
Sears  lost  everything.  His  other  ship  was  wrecked  on  a  reef  off 
Cape  Horn.  He  looked  upon  the  disaster  as  somewhat  of  a  lesson 
in  respect  to  the  assistance  he  thought  he  was  giving  to  the  Al- 
mighty. 


154  OBERLINIANA. 

Charles  Conkling,  of  the  class  of  '50,  still  possesses  the  records 
of  the  formation  of  the  first  ladies'  literal  society,  from  which  we 
quote: 

"  The  young  ladies  of  the — convened  on  Tuesday,  Julv  21,  1835, 
in  the  lower  hall  of  the  Seminary,  and  adopted  the  following  consti- 
tution: 

Article  1.  We  the  undersigned,  members  of  the  Female  Depart- 
ment of  the  Oberlin  Collegiate  Institute,  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  asso- 
ciate ourselves  to  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  Young- 
Ladies'  Association  of  the  Oberlin  Collegiate  Institute  for  the  pro- 
motion of  Literature  and  Religion." 

The  society  chose  the  following  officers:  Miss  Emily  H.  Ingra- 
ham,  President;  Miss  Mary  Williams,  Secretary;  Miss  Sarah  C. 
Capan,  Treasurer;  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Leonard,  Critic.  This  societ}^ 
like  that  of  the  young  men  formed  in.  the  "  attic  "  of  Oberlin  Hall, 
seems  to  have  been  reorganized  later.  Mrs.  Clara  R.  Commons,  of 
'53,  writes  that  she  well  remembers  the  "split"  in  the  L.  L.  S.  in 
'52  or  '53  which  gave  rise  to  the  iElioian  Society.  Kate  Van  Val- 
kenburg  Waite,  of  the  class  of '53,  was  a  prime  mover  of  the  new 
society. 

Under  President  Mahan  there  was  a  good  deal  of  discusion  of 
the  "  Heathen  Classics  "  as  they  were  designated.  President  Mahan 
was  severeh-  opposed  to  the  study  of  Latin,  and  many  are  living  to- 
day who  studied  Hebrew  instead,  during  his  presidenc}^.  Professor 
Waldo  was  a  champion  of  Latin,  on  the  other  hand,  and  public  de- 
bates were  resorted  to  between  him  and  the  President  in  order  to  ar- 
rive at  the  truth  if  possible.  In-  the  course  of  one  of  these  debates 
President  Mahan  bitterly  denounced  the  study  of  Virgil.  Of  course 
a  good  many  students  were  present,  and  some  of  these  bent  on  a 
frolic,  and  others  who  were  convinced  of  the  justice  of  the  Presi- 
dent's criticism,  brought  their  classical  volumes  to  a  funeral  pyre 
which  had  been  constructed,  and  there  incinerated  them.  It  seems 
that  President  Mahan  had  in  his  earnestness  made  the  remark 
that  such  a  book  as  Virgil  had  better  be  burned  than  read, — and  so 
the  boys  claimed  that  they  were  literally  following  his  advice. 

This  custom  of  burning  text  books  has  never  been  practiced  very 
extensively  at  Oberlin.  Some  classes  have  felt  called  upon  to  cre- 
mate their  Butlers  after  having  mastered  them  in  the  class-room. 
On  such  occasions  the  ceremonies  have  often  been  quite  elaborate, — 
all  the  ancient  funeral  rites  being  observed.  Then,  at  the  last,  the 
ashes  would  be  gathered  up  from  the  extemporized  altar,  and  each 
student  would  be  provided  with  a  memorial  phial  of  the  same. 


FLOTSAM  AND  JETSAM.  155 

If  any  one  is  ever  heard  to  remark  that  sports  are  banished  at 
Oberlin,  just  send  us  his  address,  and  we  will  see  that  he  is  pro- 
vided with  a  railroad  ticket  to  this  point,  to  the  end  that  he  may 
inspect  our  Base  Ball  Park.  It  would  almost  seem  just  that  the 
triennial  catalogue  should  include  among  alumni  the  names  of  our 
contributions  to  the  athletic  world.  Some  of  the  best  base  ball 
players  in  the  country  have  received  their  training  and  acquired 
their  proficiency  in  Oberlin.  A  series  of  championship  games  are 
annually  played,  and  the  successful  class  carries  off  the  champion- 
ship emblems.  How  many  will  recall  at  the  mere  mention,  memories 
of  great  games  in  the  past,  when  three  hundred  pairs  of  eager  fem- 
inine eyes  surveyed  the  sport  from  the  grand  stand,  and  the  partisan 
enthusiasm  of  the  contending  classes  waxed  great.  And  how  the 
victors  were  borne  from  the  field  of  battle  in  a  barouche  drawn  by 
a  long  ropeful  of  gratified  classmates,  and  perhaps  banquetted  in 
the  evening  by  their  proud  lady  classmates ! 

Recently  an  amusing  incident  occurred  during  an  examination  in 
which  the  Faculty  were  very  properly  arraigning  a  student  for  a 
serious  infraction  of  the  college  rules  in  a  matter  involving  a  game 
of  base  ball.     Said  the  examining  Professor: 

"Who  played  first  base?1' 

"I  don't  know,"  doggedlv  responded  the  offender. 

"Who  played  second  base?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"Who  played  third  base?" 

"I  don't  know." 

"Who  played  fourth  base?" 

"Nobody!" 


Reference  has  been  made  to  the  organization  of  the  Ladies  Liter- 
ary Society.  The  history  of  the  first  gentlemen's  society  dates  back 
almost  to  the  founding  of  the  institution,  in  1833.  It  was  organ- 
ized in  the  attic  of  the  first  building,  Oberlin  Hall,  with  the  young- 
men  sitting  in  the  doors  of  their  little  rooms  facing  the  passage  way. 
In  the  half  dozen  years  after  the  school  was  established,  this  and 
other  organizations  served  their  purpose,  but  it  was  not  till  Septem- 
ber, 1839,  that  an  organization  was  made  which  was  destined  to  live 
with  the  college  itself.  The  "Dialectic  Society,"  afterward  called 
the  "Young  Men's  Lyceum,"  known  now  as  "Phi  Kappa  Pi,"  was 
this  first  society.  A  few  months  after,  the  "  Philomathean  Society," 
now  known  as  "  Phi  Delta,"  was  instituted.  In  1869  the  increasing 
size  of  the  young  men's  societies  caused  the  formation  of  a  new  one, 
which   is   known  as  "  Alpha  Zeta."     These  societies   have  a  wide 


156  OBERLINIANA. 

reputation  for  the  character  of  work  performed  in  them.     A  stan- 
dard book  on  College  Societies  places  them  at  the  very  head  in  this 

country. 

* 

*  ■* 

It  was  at  Oberlin  that  Mr.  Garrison  got  his  first  batch  of  apostles 
to  travel  and  spread  his  Liberator.  It  was  from  Oberlin  that  the 
"patriots,"  in  Kansas  received  arms,  money  and  men  to  fight  the 
border  ruffians  of  Missouri;  it  was  from  Oberlin  that  the  great 
army  of  anti-slavery  workers,  preachers,  teachers  and  lecturers 
went  forth  to  work ;  it  was  from  Oberlin  that  nearly  one-half  of  the 
ad»ult  population  marched  off,  when  the  war  began,  to  fight  the  re- 
bellion. And  these  non-tobacco-chewing,  non-whiskey-drinking, 
non-swearing,  praying,  howling,  ranting  "  religious  fanatics,"  made 
good   soldiers,  and  withheld  not  their  blood  and  their  lives  to  free 

the  Union. 

* 

*  ■* 

Always  patriotic,  the  Oberlin  students  outdid  themselves  during 
the  Garfield  campaign.  An  account  is  given  elsewhere  of  the  grand 
spontaneous  demonstration  in  honor  of  the  General's  election. 
But  the  surplus  enthusiasm  was  not  spent,  even  after  such  an  es- 
cape valve  had  been  opened,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  make 
some  presentation.  General  Garfield  had  been  at  Oberlin  so  often, 
and  was  so  well  known  by  most  of  the  students.  Accordingly 
Alonzo  Pease,  the  artist,  was  visited  by  a  committee  of  students, 
and  consented  to  sell  a  fine  oil  painting  of  George  Washington 
which  he  had  on  hand.  The  picture  was  such  a  one  as  he  had  been 
in  the  habit  of  getting  $500  for.  This  was  enclosed  in  a  massive 
gilt  frame,  and  expressed  to  Mentor,  along  with  the  following  note, 
so  as  to  reach  its  destination  on  the  22nd  of  February — the  birth- 
day of  the  father  of  his  country: 

Oberlin,  February  22,  1881. 
"  General  J.  A.  Garfield: 

Sir:  We  have  been  directed  by  the  students  of  Oberlin  College 
to  present  to  you,  as  a  mark  of  their  confidence  and  esteem,  this 
portrait  of  Washington  on  the  anniversary  of  his  birth.  They  desire 
us  to  express  their  belief,  that  as  his  successor,  you  represent  the 
patriotism  that  carried  our  country  through  so  many  perils  in  the 
hour  of  our  struggle  for  independence,  and  the  wisdom  that  guided 
her  councils  under  his  hands  in  the  no  less  important  time  when 
freedom  had  been  secured.  The}-  trust  that  as  a  result  of  your  ad- 
ministration, so  soon  to  commence,  the  harmony  promoted  by  Washi- 
ngton, and  disturbed  by  slavery,  shall   be  restored;  and  the  exer- 


FLOTSAM  AND  JETSAM.  157 

cise  of  his  just  rights  shall  be  denied  to  no  citizen  in  our  land. 

The  portrait  is  a  copy  from  Gilbert  Stuart's  painting,  now  in  the 
Boston  Athenaeum,  and  is  executed  by  Alonzo  Pease,  one  of  Ober- 
lin's  sons.      We  have  the  honor  to  remain  your  obedient  servants, 

The  Students'  Committee." 

General  Garfield  replied  in  a  pleasant  manner,  thanking  the  stu- 
dents for  their  "  appropriate  and  much  prized  gift." 


From  time  immemorial  the  ladies  have  prided  themselves  upon 
the  discipline  they  maintain,  whereby  they  suppose  themselves  able 
to  cope  with  possible  fires  at  the  Hall.  Mrs.  Johnston  has  had 
charge  of  the  training  of  late  years,  and  many  have  been  the  drills 
which  principal  and  girls  have  enjoyed  together.  If  you  want  to 
mortally  offend  an  institution  lady,  you  have  only  to  call  in  question 
the  self-possession  and  skill  which  the  Hall  girls  fancy  they  would 
be  able  to  display  in  case  of  an  emergency.  The  gentlemen,  on  the 
other  hand,  have  doubtless  most  of  them  looked  at  the  Hall  more 
than  once  with  a  nameless  sort  of  half-wish  that  there  might  some- 
time be  a  conflagration  there,  just  so  as  to  give  them  an  opportunity 
to  display  their  heroism,  and  rescue  some  fair  Dulcinea.  Well,  one 
fine  spring  day  three  or  four  years  ago,  the  alarm  of  fire  was  sounded 
at  the  Ladies'  Hall.  The  appointed  signal,  (the  ringing  of  the 
dinner  bell  at  any  hour  save  meal  time)  was  given.  Here  was  the 
long-looked-for  opportunity.  With  commendable  composure  the 
female  fire  brigade  went  to  work.  Every  girl  had  her  part  assigned, 
and  knew  just  where  to  get  her  bucket.  But  one  fact  suddenly 
checked  their  zeal.  It  was  passed  from  mouth  to  mouth  that  it  was 
the  gymnasium  that  was  on  fire.  Without  any  remarks,  the  girls 
formed  in  line,  under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Johnston,  and  passed 
pails  of  water  from  the  pump  in  the  Hall  court  to  the  firemen.  But 
there  has  always  been  a  dim  though  terrible  suspicion  that  the  girls 
were  only  half-hearted  in  the  work.  It  made  a  difference  when  it 
was  the  gymnasium  that  was  burning  and  there  was  no  danger  of  a 
spread  of  the  flames.  Visions  of  release  from  all  daily  physical 
exercise,  except  that  required  in  making  the  bed,  danced  before  the 
excited  imaginations  of  the  girls.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  a  calm, 
sweet  peace  settled  down  over  the  workers  as  they  saw  the  Indian 
clubs,  the  dumb-bells,  and  even  the  squeaky  old  piano  perishing  in 
the  flames.  The  boys  looked  on,  and  have  always  since  felt  that  so 
much  work  could  not  have  been  done  by  that  female  fire  brigade 
without  checking  the  fire,  providing  no  one  had  purposely  mis- 
directed her  energies. 


158  OBERLINIANA. 

The  Conservatory  of  Music  was  founded  in  1865  b}'  John  P.  Mor 
gan,  a  son  of  Diy  Morgan,  one  of  the  first  musicians  of  his  day,  and! 
afterward  the  well-known  organist  of  Trinity  church,  New  York, 
From  its  first  establishment  the  school  has  constantly  grown,  until 
it  catalogues  over  350  names'.  It  is  thus  seen  that  there  are  but  one 
or  two  other  schools  of  the  kind  in  the  country  which  are  numeric- 
ally as  strong.  This  success  is  due  very  largely  to  the  indefatigable 
efforts  of  Professor  F.  B.  Rice,  who  has  now  been  at  its  head  for 
thirteen  years. 

Among  its  graduates  are — Calvin  B.  Cady,  Professor  at  Ann 
Arbor; 'Amelia  White  a  professional  soprano;  Willard  Kimball, 
Professor  at  Grinnell;  Lottie  E.  Bingham,  singer,  Philadelphia; 
Howard  Carter,  organist;  E.  B.  Geer,  Professor  in  music  at  Tabor; 
George  Andrews,  organist;  and  L.  W.  Burr,  composer.  Pro- 
fessor S.  N.  Penfield  of  Dr.  Cuyler's  church,  Brooklyn,  is  also  an 
Oberlin  musician. 


Two  years  ago  the  following  statistics  were  collected  b}^  the 
writer.  The  figures  will  need  to  be  modified  by  the  result  of  the 
last  two  years : 

The  graduates  Qf  the  institution  number  2,105.  To  attempt  to 
estimate  the  number  who  have  received  instruction  in  the  school 
seems  like  an  impossible  task.  After  poring  over  the  ponderous 
catalogues  we  find  the  annual  footings  to  be  altogether  42,121, 
Quite  a  large  city  might  be  founded  and  peopled  exclusively  Try 
Oberlin  students.  Supposing  that  on  the  average  the  liberal 
amount  of  forty  per  cent  of  this  number  mentioned  has  resulted 
from  re-enrollment,  this  would  indicate  that  at  least  25,453  persons 
have  pursued  their  studies  at  this  college.  In  fostering  the  move- 
ment of  higher  education  at  the  West,  no  other  college  compares1 
with  Oberlin.  She  has  educated  twelve  college  presidents — five  of 
them  now  in  service,  150  professors  and  instructors,  while  a  large 
number  who  labor  to  enlist  Eastern  co-operation  are  her  graduates. 
The  New  West  Education  Commission  avers  that  it  has  no  other 
such  ally. 


We  append  a  list  of  President  Finney's  works,  taken  from  an 
article  by  Prof.  G.  F.  Wright,  in  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra  for  1876:  (1) 
Lectures  on  Revivals  of  Religion,  pp  438,  of  which  nearly  200,000 
copies  have  been  sold.  Translated  into  Welsh  and  French.  (2) 
Lectures  to  Professing  Christians,  (3)  Sermons  on  Important  Sub- 
jects, (4)  Skeletons  of  a  Course  of  Theological  Lectures,  (5)  Lee- 


FLOTSAM  AND  JETSAM.  159 

tures  on  Systematic  Theology,  (6)  The  Character,  Claims  and  Prac- 
tical Workings  of  Free  Masomy,  (7)  Memoirs  of  Rev.  Charles  G. 
Finne}',  written  by  himself.  President  Finne}-  was  a  constant  con- 
tributor to  the  Oberlin  Evangelist  and  Oberlin  Quarterly  Review, 
and  in  later  years  to  the  Advance  and  Independent  newspapers. 

*  * 

Those  who  do  not  think  Oberlin  can  turn  out  anything  except  min- 
isters should  read  the  following  list  of  wel' -known  "legal  lights''  resi- 
dent in  Cleveland  alone,  most  of  whom  are  graduates:  Judge  S.  O. 
Griswold,  Judge  J.  E.  Ingersoll,  John  C.  Grannis,  (dead)  T.  E. 
Burton,  City  Solicitor  George  S.  Kain,  ex-City  Prosecutor  J.  B. 
Frazer,  County  Prosecutor  Carlos  M.  Stone,  Assistant  County 
Prosecutor  Alex  Hadden,  Police  Judge  John  C.  Hutchins,  A.  H. 
Weed,  Charles  F.  Morgan,  J.  W.  Tyler,  Frank  Canfield,  ex-County 
Prosecutor  Homer  B.  DeWolf,  George  A.  Groot,  P.  H.  Kaiser,  P. 
W.  Payne,  W.  C.  Rogers,  W.  F.  Walworth,  R.  J.  Winters,  H.  L. 
Terrel,  M.  W.  Beacom,  J.  F.  Herrick  and  L.  Breckenridee. 


One  day  as  Prof.  Churchill  was  experimenting  in  his  laboratory 
in  old  Colonial  Hall  a  German  citizen  of  the  town  called  upon  him 
and  noticing  a  Ley  den  jar  upon  the  table  asked  the  Professor  what 
it  was.  "  Smell  of  it,"  was  the  reply.  The  Teuton  innocently  applied 
the  brass  ball  to  his  nose  and  received  the  full  benefit  of  the  charge 
of  electricity  it  contained.  Instead  of  being  provoked  he  took  it  as 
an  excellent  joke  and  requested  that  the  same  trick  be  played  upon 
some  of  his  friends.  Next  day  he  presented  himself,  accompanied 
by  his  wife  and  mother-in-law,  whom  he  had  persuaded  to  come  and 
see  the  "smelling  bottle."  The  Professor  charged  his  jar,  and  the 
German's  fun  succeeded  beyond  question. 

* 

At  another  time  experiments  were  being  conducted  before  the 
class  with  the  inductive  coil.  The  wires  were  attached  to  the  ends 
of  an  egg,  which  was  illuminated  by  the  discharge.  After  class  a 
number  of  the  students  gathered  round  the  table  and  one  of  them 
took  up  the  egg  to  which  the  coil  was  still  fast.  Suddenly  a  spark 
passed  through.  An  instantaneous  closing  of  the  hand  followed, 
and  portions  of  the  egg  flew  into  the  student's  face.  Imagining 
that  it  was  blood,  he  turned  with  a  shriek  and  fled. 


In  the  same  class  room,  under  the  same   genial   Professor,  once 
studied  a  student  who  had  a  proclivity  for  sitting  on  the  side  of  the 


160  OBERL1NIANA. 

room  reserved  for  the  ladies,  and  just  back  of  them.  Having  been 
spoken  to  about  this  dereliction  a  number  of  times,  but  after  a  day 
or  two  always  drifting-  back  to  the  coveted  position,  the  Professor 
one  morning  remarked:  "  As  many  of  the  ladies  as  desire  Mr.  Blank 
to  take  a  seat  with  the  gentlemen  will  manifest  it  by  smiling."  It 
is  needless  to  add  that  ,the  vote  was  unanimous. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart  were  earnest  advocates  of  constant 
and  vigorous  exercise.  By  the  former  of  the  two  the  ladies  who 
worked  at  the  hall  were  advised  to  carry  two  pails  of  water  instead 
of  one;  to  carry  as  many  dishes  at  once  as  possible.  Wood  sawing 
was  also  recommended  to  them  as  a  valuable  exercise.  The  gentle- 
men were  urged  by  Mr.  Stewart  to  rub  with  coarse  dry  towels 
for  cleansing  purposes  as  far  as  possible  instead  of  water.  He  gave 
lectures  on  gymnastics  and  advised  sun  baths,  urging  the  students 
to  frequently  lie  out  on  the  roof  in  the  sun.  On  account  of  this 
peculiarity  the  boys  named  him  "  P.  P.  Stewart,  the  Tanner."  His 
main  hobby,  however,  consisted  in  a  midnight  gymnastic  exercise 
entitled  the  "jumps."  A  member  of  the  present  faculty  told  us  that 
he  well  remembered  being  one  of  a  number  of  students  who  inhabit- 
ed Tappan  Hall  twenty-five  years  ago,  and  who  were  under  the 
"jump"  system.  "Whenever  we  woke  up  at  night  we  were  to 
spring  out  of  bed  and,  standing  upon  our  toes,  rapidly  spring  the 
body  up  and  down,  at  the  same  time  shaking  the  arms  and  head 
violently.  Manjr  a  time  have  I  gone  through  these  motions  at  mid- 
night, and  as  I  laid  awake  after  it,  could  hear  the  boys  in  other 
rooms  dancing  in  like  manner.  But  when  Mr.  Stewart  left,  the 
4 jumps'  disappeared  with  him." 


The  following  brief  sketch  of  Oberlin  College  journalism,  pre- 
pared by  Mr.  D.  F.  Bradley,  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  this  chapter 
for  purposes  of  reference: 

The  Review,  college  paper,  was  set  on  its  feet  in  the  Spring  Term 
of  1874.  Previously  to  this  there  had  been  no  college  paper  pub- 
lished by  the  students,  although  a  series  of  papers  edited  by  the 
Professors  had  been  issued  from  the  earliest  days  of  the  college. 
The  Oberlin  Evangelist  had  a  career  of  several  years,  but  was 
edited  and  published  as  a  religious  paper,  not  as  a  college  paper. 
After  this  came  the  Oberlin  Quarterly  Review,  which  was  more 
secular  than  the  Evangelist  and  frequently  contained  articles  writ- 
ten by  students  in  the  Seminary  and  College. 

In  1874  it  was   thought  that  in  view  of  the  large  number  of  stu- 


FLOTSAM  AND  JETSAM.  161 

dents  in  the  college  a  paper,  edited  by  students  and  conducted  b}^ 
them  without  dependence  on  the  Faculty,  would  be  successful,  and 
the  project  was  set  on  foot  with  C.  N.  Jones,  now  Professor  of 
Mathematics  at  Ann  Arbor,  as  editor-in-chief,  assisted  by  other 
students.  Of  the  fifty-one  editors  of  the  Eeview,  two  have  died, 
five  are  now  college  professors  and  one  a  tutor;  thirteen  are  teaching 
in  the  public  schools,  seven  are  preaching,. one  is  a  missionary,  six 
are  practicing  law,  three  are  studying  law,  six  are  studying  theo- 
logy, none  have  become  journalists;  fifteen  are  married. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

TEMPERANCE  BATTLES. 

£|r  I  ^O  thoroughly  appreciate  the  attitude  of  Oberlin  on  the  tem- 
4J  JL  perance  question,  to  understand  the  hostility  towards  billiard- 
3|  Jl  playing  and  every  form  of  vice,  it  is  necessary  to  study  well 
^  ^  the  history  and  traditions  of  the  place.  The  men  who  founded 
Oberlin  college  and  town  did  so  with  the  intention  of  perma- 
nently maintaining  the  sound  principle  expressed  in  the 
covenant,  "  Glorifying  God  and  doing  good  to  men  to  the 
extent  of  our  ability."  These  pioneers  desired  not  so  much  a  de- 
sirable situation  as  a  condition  of  things  which  would  keep  out  the 
vices  which  prevail  in  cities.  They  prayed  and  worked  to  the  end 
that  a  school  might  be  established  where  a  thorough  Christian 
education  might  be  given  at  slight  expense  and  with  a  minimum  of 
danger.  And  their  followers  in  the  work  have  been  faithful  to  the 
examples  left  them.  No  such  little  space  as  is  here  afforded  could 
compass  the  struggles  and  triumphs  of  fifty  years  in  respect  to  these 
things.  The  heart  agonies,  the  silent  prayers,  the  personal  work  for 
temperance,  can  never  be  recorded  on  earth,  but  they  accomplished 
their  Divinely  intended  *end.  The  thousands  of  parents  who  have 
sent  children  to  Oberlin  because  they  believed  that  there  the}^  would 
be  safe  from  temptation,  have  not  been  disappointed  in  the  past,  and 
with  God's  help,  just  as  far  as  it  is  possible  in  accord  with  law  and 
good  order,  Oberlin  will  remain  pure  from  the  accursed  thing. 

Whoever  has  lived  in  Oberlin  for  any  length  of  time  cannot  have 
failed  to  witness  one  or  more  of  the  wonderlul  mass  meetings  in  the 


162  OBERLINIANA. 

"Big  Church,"  when  it  seemed  as  if  every  person  in  town  was  pres 
ent,  and  every  one  fully  aroused  on  the  subject  of  the  meeting,  wit! 
the  members  of  the  Faculty  and  mayor  on  the  platform,  the  prayei 
for  guidance,  the  resolutions  and  soul-stirring  response,  the  devo- 
tional spirit  pervading  all,  and  the  courage  with  which  the  whoh 
vast  assembly  were  filled,  to  go  forward  with  renewed  strength  in 
the  fight  against  evil,  are  things  never  to  be  forgotten. 

Such  a  meeting  was  held  on  the  evening  of  January  20th,  188(1 
to  consider  the  growing  use  of  tobacco  in  the  town,  and  to  devist 
means  for  ridding  the  town,  so  far  as  possible,  of  the  evils  resulting 
from  the  trade.  The  speakers'  were  Prof.  Ellis,  Prof.  Smith,  Prof 
Frost,  Rev.  James  Brand  and  Rev.  J.  Brant.  In  spite  of  the  fad 
that  no  students  use  the  weed  there  was  annually  sold  nearly  #12,00( 
worth  of  the  article  in  Oberlin  at  that  time. 

We  give  a  report  at  length,  that  the  spirit  of  the  town  in  regarc 
to  the  matter  may  be  better  understood. 

Resolutions  ottered  by  Mr.  E.  J.  Goodrich,  and  passed  unani 
mously,  were  as  follows: 

Whekeas,  The  existence  of  a  tobacco  store  tends  to  impoverist 
the  community  without  contributing  to  the  welfare  or  usefulness  ol 
any  one,  and  fosters  idleness,  personal  extravagance  and  rowdyism 
and  leads  towards  dissipation;  and 

Whereas,  Such  a  store  is  of  the  nature  of  a  saloon,  a  continual 
temptation  to  the  }^oung,  inviting  them  to  waste  time  and  money 
and  to  form  bad  associations  and  unwholesome  and  vicious  habits 
and 

Whereas,  Such  a  resort  is  especially  undesirable  in  a  Colleg< 
town;  and 

Whereas,  The  tendency  to  these  evils  is  manifestly  increasing 
amongst  us;  therefore 

Resolved,  That  we,  citizens  of  Oberlin,  unite  in  protesting  againsl 
the  existence  of  a  tobacco  store  in  this  place. 

Supt.  Clark,  of  the  public  schools,  ottered  the  following: 

Whereas,  The  use  of  tobacco  is  shown  by  experience  and  th< 
highest  medical  authority  to  be  detrimental  to  health  and  to  tend 
to  weaken  the  moral  faculties  and  increase  the  appetite  for  stimu 
lants,  and  is  besides  both  expensive  and  offensive;  and, 

Whekeas,  The  use  of  it  by  boys  and  young  men  is  especiall} 
demoralizing  and  harmful ;  and 

Whereas,  The  use  of  it  by  students  is  a  violation  of  their  obli 
gation  of  loyalty  to  the  college; 

Resolved,  That  we  most  earnestly  protest  against  the  sale  of  to 
bacco  in  any  form,  by  any  persons,  to  students  or  minors. 


TEMPERANCE  BATTLES.  163 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  present  the  resolutions  to  the 
persons  engaged  in  the  trade,  and  in  consequence  the  tradesmen 
with  but  one  exception,  pledged  themselves  to  give  up  the  sale. 


A  new  saloon  was  opened  in  Ma\r,  1875,  but  the  students  and 
town  people  united  in  "opposing1'  it,  resolving  that  it  should  not  be 
allowed  to  remain.  Large  and  enthusiastic  meetings  were  held  in 
the  basement  of  the  Second  Church  on  Monday  morning  and  Tues- 
day afternoon.  Committees  were  appointed  to  visit  the  saloon- 
keeper, to  engage  in  moral  work  and  to  ascertain  whether  the  nuis- 
ance could  be  closed  by  any  legal  process.  On  the  following  Fri- 
day the  First  Church  was  crowded  with  old  and  young  to  hear  the 
report  of  the  committees.  The  report  was  presented  by  Hon.  James 
Monroe,  who  gave  an  account  of  Ohio  temperance  legislation  and 
explained  new  amendments  and  changes.  Stirring  addresses  were 
made  by  Rev.  James  Brand  and  Professor  Mead.  Mr.  Brand's  re- 
mark that  we  did  not  propose  to  have  any  saloon  to  "regulate" 
was  received  with  enthusiastic  cheers,  which  told  plainly  what  were 
the  feelings  of  the  audience  on  the  saloon  question.  The  result 
of  the  matter,  the   closing   of  the  saloon,  proved  how  efficient  was 

that  feeling. 

* 
*  -* 

In  the  following  year,  in  September,  '76,  the  liquor  dealer  invaded 
the  place  again  in  the  shape  of  a  certain  Mr.  Jenkins,  who  opened  a 
saloon  near  the  depot. 

The  Temperance  Alliance  took  up  the  subject,  and  requested 
the  pastors  to  bring  it  before  the  people;  sermons  were  preached. 
Thursday  a  mass  meeting  was  held ;  crusading  followed,  and  in  two 
weeks  Mr.  Jenkins  said  he  had  sold  out  all  his  stock  except  a  bar- 
rel of  cider,  and  when  that  was  gone  he  would  go  too.  Dr.  Siddal 
bought  it  for  vinegar.  The  saloon  locked,  Mi-.  Jenkins  left  for  another 
saloon  outside  the  corporation,  where  he  distinguished  himself  in 
a  drunken  fight,  wherein  he  was  bally    injured. 

During  the  last  temperance  war  in  the  winter  of  '81-'82,  the 
society  formed  to  carry  on  the  crusade,  called  the  Obarlin  Temper- 
ance Alliance  to  an  energetic  and  novel  way  to  raise  funds  for  their 
cause.  A  mass  meeting  of  students  and  citizens  was  held  in  the 
First  Church.  The  method  pursued  was  that  each  one  who  wished 
to  give  aid  would  subscribe  a  portion  of  his  property  subject  to 
the  tax  of  the  society  to  whatever  extent  necessary.  The  excite- 
ment was  intense.     Subscriptions  came  in  from  the  first  as  rapidly 


164  0BERL1NIANA. 

as  Professor  Shurtleff  could  call  them  off.  Soon  many  were  stand- 
ing waiting  a  chance  to  cry  out  their  $500  or  $1,000.  A  whole  seat 
full  of  students  arose,  and  from  one  after  another  $500  was  pledged 
till  the  last  one,  bound  to  outdo  the  others,  made  it  $1,000.  The 
excitement  was  contagious.  One  member  of  the  class  of '85,  who  | 
will  long  be  rememberei  for  his  sweet  tenor  voice  and  eyes  that 
smiled  behind  his  glasses,  blushing  with  enthusiasm  and  excite 
ment,  called  off  a  thousand  dollars  for  his  class,  a  thousand  for  his 
ball  nine,  a  thousand  for  his  foot-ball  eleven,  and  a  thousand  for 
himself,  and  to  his  honor  be  it  said  that  when  the  assessment  was 
levied  he  paid  it  to  the  uttermost  farthing.  A  professor  ro  e  three 
times  to  pledge  a  thousand  for  himself,  another  for  his  wife  and 
another  still  for  his  daughter.  $200,000  was  pledged  with  the  un- 
derstanding that  it  could  be  drawn  upon  to  the  last  cent  if  neces- 
sary to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  Alliance.  The  meeting  closed  with 
a  fitting  benediction  on  its  good  work  and  grand  success. 

The  critical  point  of  the  last  temperance  crusade  was  reached  on 
Saturday,  the  night  of  the  Litta  concert.  On  account  of  the  con- 
cert in  the  First  Church,  very  few  students  were  at  hand.  A  large 
crowd  of  loafers  from  town  and  some  imported  from  outside,  filled 
the  obnoxious  drug  store.  Everything  was  ripe  for  an  encounter  of 
some  kind.  The  roughs  were  eager  to  provoke  one.  Two  theologues, 
Messrs.  Lucas  and  Mack,  were  on  duty  that  night,  and  were  subjected 
to  all  manner  of  insult  and  abuse.  Camp  chairs  wrhich  they  had  with 
them  were  taken  from  under  them  and  they  were  cast  out  of  the 
store,  but  to  return  again  and  resume  their  guard.  Three  '83  men, 
Brower,  Trible  and  W.  P.  Boyd,  came  in  to  aid  the  theologues  if 
necessaiy.  The  roughs,  not  content  with  trying  to  smoke  out  the 
students  by  filling  the  room  with  the  offensive  fumes  of  the  poorest 
quality  of  cigars,  began  the  cowardly  insult  of  standing  in  front  of 
one  of  the  students  and  puffing  the  smoke  directly  in  his  face. 
Then  manly  courage  was  put  to  its  strongest  test.  The  two  theo- 
logues and  one  of  the  college  men,  firm  and  unmoved,  stood  within 
a  few  inches  of  the  mouths  that  poured  forth  volumes  of  offensive 
smoke.  This  required  more  courage  to  endure  than  to  resist,  and 
but  few  possess  it.  The  other  students,  Boyd  and  Trible,  of  fewer 
years  and  hotter  blood  were  less  willing  to  endure,  and  with  the  first 
puff  of  smoke  that  came  into  his  face  Boyd  seized  the  cigar  from 
the  mouth  of  his  insulter  and  ground  it  under  his  heel.  The  rough 
in  return  struck  a  blow  at  him  which  was  avoided.  At  the  same 
moment  Trible,  who  stood  by,  struck  the  rough  a  stinging  blow  in 
the  face.     With  shouts  of  "Down  with  them,"  "Put  them  out,"  the 


TEMPERANCE  BATTLES.  165 

crowd  rushed  upon  the  students.  It  swayed  a  little  back  and  forth, 
then  all  went  together  through  the  front  of  the  store,  taking  door 
and  all  with  them. 


The  same  evening  another  incident  occurred  of  a  notable  charac- 
ter. After  the  first  encounter  the  crowd  returned  again  within  the 
store.  Several  times  the  rush  through  the  door  was  repeated,  accom- 
panied with  the  breakage  of  glass.  Among  the  students  who 
collected  in  course  of  time  at  the  store,  was  J.  H.  Garnett  of  '83. 
During  a  scuffle  a  noose  of  sheep  cord  was  passed  around  Garnett's 
neck  and  an  attempt  made  to  drag  him  out.  What  might  have 
happened  cannot  be  told.  But  Garnett  being  a  man  of  strength 
and  determination,  braced  himself  and  by  great  exertion  drew  the 
rope  from  the  crowd  and  carried  it  off  as  a  trophy.  A  short  speech 
was  made  by  Levi  Whitney,  warning  the  crowd  to  beware  lest  there 
be  blood  shed. '  It  had  effect  and  the  excited  boys  scattered  peacea- 
bly to  their  homes. 

*  * 

During  this  last  crusade  an  exciting  meeting  was  held  in  the 
College  Chapel.  Some  of  the  prominent  ladies  of  the  place  had  been 
subjected  to  shameful  insults  from  the  attendants  in  the  drug  store 
that  was  such  a  source  of  offence.  It  seemed  as  though  affairs  had 
come  to  a  crisis  and  that  something  must  be  done  to  end  the  trouble. 
Speeches  were  made  by  many  of  the  students.  The  excitement  was 
intense.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  but  for  a  word  from  some  one 
older  or  higher  in  authority,  the  students  would  have  hastened  to 
remove  druggist,  liquors  and  all  beyond  the  limits  of  the  town. 
The  wiser,  though  hardly  less  enthusiastic  Professors,  only  re- 
strained the  students  by  timely  advice,  from  more  these  aggressive 
measures.  The  meeting  closed  with  the  universal  sentiment  that  if 
the  time  came  to  use  force,  it  would  be  used  unhesitatingly,  but  in 
all  events  due  regard  would  be  paid  to  law  and  order. 

*  * 

Oberlin  never  pursued  pleasure  as  a  business  and  never  encour- 
aged amusement  as  an  end.  On  the  ground  of  a  manifest  tendency 
toward  idleness,  dissipation  and  vice  it  opposes  billiard  saloons,  not 
by  blind  prejudice  but  by  judgment  based  on  intelligent  observation 
of  the  character  of  the  proprietors  and  patrons  of  such  establish- 
ments. In  September  '78  it  became  known  that  the  proprietor  of  a 
billiard  hall,  beer  saloon  and  bowling  alley  in  a  neighboring  town 
had  established  a  branch  of  his  business  here.  A  committee  of 
seven   reliable  men  conferred  with  the  proprietor  and  assured  him 


166  OBERLINIANA, 

that  Oberlin  needed  no  billiards,  that  his  business  was  obnoxious, 
that  it  would  never  prosper,  that  every  lawful  obstacle  would  be 
thrown  in  his  way ,-  that  good  people  would  everywhere  oppose  him. 
and  that  such  opposition  would  never  be  withdrawn.  He  still  per- 
sisted, confident  and  defiant.  Repeated  conferences  were  of  no  avail. 
Then  the  plan  of  systematic  visitation  was  adopted;  and  day  after 
day,  week  after  week,  Christian  men  and  women  guarded  the  place, 
thus  entering  a  silent  protest  which  deterred  all  but  the  most  reck- 
less from  entering.  While  the  faithful  watchers  did  their  work  the 
Village  Council  was  also  busy.  First  an  ordinance  was  passed 
closing  the  saloon  at  7  p.m.  This  was  soon  followed  by  another  re- 
quiring a  tax  or  license  of  fifty  dollars  on  each  billiard  table. 
These  had  the  effect  desired.  Soon  they  were  violated  and  the 
offender  fined  twenty-five  dollars  and  costs,  to  be  committed  to  the 
county  jail  till  all  was  paid.  The  proprietor  being  allowed  to 
search  for  bail  disappeared,  and  the  saloon,  closed  and  deserted, 
with  its  empty  cigar  boxes,  broken  bottles  and  mystic  placards 
testified  to  the  result  of  the  exertion  of  Oberlin' s  moral  influence. 


Concerning  the  same  trouble  the  Congregationalist  said:  "Ober- 
lin people  have  been  greatly  stirred  lately  by  the  opening  of  a 
billiard  hall  in  their  midst.  The  First  Church  has  held  crowded 
meetings  addressed  by  the  clergy,  who  believe  that  gambling  and 
drinking  go  with  billiards,  and  that  the}T  are  a  waste  of  time  and 
destroyer  of  character.  A  committee  waited  upon  the  proprietor, 
who,  thinking  that  the  atmosphere  of  Oberlin  might  not  be  con- 
genial, desired  to  sell  out  for  fifty  dollars.  This  the  citizens  re- 
fused to  pay.  His  hall  has  been  visited  constantly  for  a  week  by 
Christians,  who  talk  with  the  players;  and  if  the  smoke  becomes  too 
thick,  they  go  to  the  sidewalk  and  talk  with  those  who  are  about  to 
enter.  Such  persistency  always  wins."  This  may  be  an  appropriate 
place  to  state  that  Oberlin  still  maintains  her  standard  in  respect 
to  rules  regarding  moral  conduct.  The  rule  against  the  use  of  to- 
bacco, which  has  always  been  one  of  Oberlin' s  distinguishing  fea- 
tures, still  receives  the  entire  and  unquestioning  support  of  the 
Faculty,  and  is  now  as  strictly  in  force  as  at  any  time  during  the 
history  of  the  college  The  rule  stands  on  the  books  and  its  char- 
acter is  known  to  every  member  of  the  institution.  Everyone  who 
comes  to  Oberlin  knows  of  it.  Leaving  out  the  question  of  right 
and  wrong  of  the  use  of  the  weed,  the  question  simply  is,  can  a  stu- 
dent in  Oberlin  violate  this  rule  and  continue  to  receive  the  respect 
of  his  fellow  students  and  himself?  Whatever  may  be  said  about 
how  far  the  Faculty  enforce  the  rule,  and  they  do  enforce  it  strictly, 


TEMPERANCE  BATTLES.  167 

we  are  sure  that  we  speak  the  sentiment  of  the  students  in  general 
when  we  say  that  students  do  not  and  cannot  support  or  respect 
men  who  violate  the  rule. 

The  Faculty  compel  no  man  to  come  to  Oberlin,  and  they  are  al- 
ways willing  to  grant  an  honorable  dismission  to  anyone  who  wishes 
to  continue  the  use  of  tobacco  and  to  go  where  there  are  no  rules 
against  it.  The  students  know  this,  and  the  man  who  stays  in 
Oberlin  and  attempts  to  violate  the  rule  has  to  face  this  fact  and 
the  adverse  sentiment  of  his  fellow  students. 


An  incident  that  occurred  in  the  summer  of  '81,  well  illustrates 
the  feeling  prevalent  among  the  students  on  the  temperance  ques- 
tion. For  some  time  one  of  the  drug  stores,  kept  by  Mr.  Rowland, 
had  been  suspected  of  selling  liquors  for  other  than  medicinal  pur- 
poses, and  the  evidence  in  that  direction  seemed  conclusive.  Prayer 
meetings  were  held  daily  to  implore  aid  in  removing  this  evil.  The 
answer  came.  The  first  step  was  taken  by  Rowland  himself,  who 
proposed  to  stop  selling  liquors  for  any  purpose  whatever,  provided 
all  the  other  drug  stores  in  the  place  would  do  the  same.  After  a 
short  time  such  an  agreement  was  made  and  signed  by  all  the  drug- 
sellers.  Upon  the  day  this  agreement  was  concluded  there  was  a 
game  of  ball  on  the  college  grounds,  and  during  its  progress  the 
announcement  came  that  the  agreement  had  been  signed.  The  boys 
stopped  their  playing,  and  with  their  hats  in  hand  gave  three  rous- 
ing cheers  for  Oberlin  and  temperance. 

It  was  a  humiliating  chapter  in  the  temperance  history  of  Ober- 
lin when  Gilmour's  band  gave  an  entertainment  in  the  First  Church 
a  few  years  ago.  Kegs  of  beer  were  smuggled  into  the  choir  room 
under  the  organ  loft,  and  the  members  of  the  troupe,  even  to  the 
"lady"  (?)  vocalist,  regaled  themselves  extensively  therefrom. 
Think  of  it, — in  that  room  where  the  sainted  mothers  and  sisters  of 
Oberlin  used  to  gather  in  the  afternoons  all  along  during  the  war 
to  pray  for  the  Union  cause;  that  room,  so  hallowed  by  sacred  asso- 
ciations for  forty  long  years !  It  is  with  satisfaction  that  we  record 
the  fact  that  on  the  following  morning  the  responsible  members  of 
the  company  were  visited  in  their  rooms  at  the  hotel,  and  warrants 
served  upon  them.  They  settled  the  affair  as  quickly  as  possible, 
folded  their  tents  and  stole  away. 

*  * 

The  temperance  history  of  Oberlin  would  not  be  complete  with- 
out reference  to  some  of  the  deeds  of  violence  which  have  been 
perpetrated  on  both  sides  in  the  ardor  of  partizan  zeal.     The  out- 


168  OBERLINIANA. 

side  world  hears  more  of  the  "persecutions"  of  saloonists  by  the 
students  and  citizens  than  of  the  numerous  unlawful  offenses  of  the 
saloonists  themselves.  That  some  over-zealous  students  should  be 
found  among  a  thousand  spirited  young  men  is  not  remarkably 
strange.  It  should  be  known,  however,  that  the  Faculty  deprecate 
all  such  demonstrations  and  have  even  disciplined  the  guilty  parties 
on  such  occasions,  when  they  were  able  to  discover  who  they  were. 

In  the  spring  of  '77  two  young  men,  neither  of  them  yet  twenty 
years  of  age,  started  the  construction  of  a  saloon  in  what  was  known 
as  New  Oberlin.  New  Oberlin  is  a  very  small  colony  located  about 
one  mile  east  and  one  mile  north  of  the  First  Church.  The  settle- 
ment was  originally  designed  for  a  branch  school,  and  Mr.  Hall, 
one  of  the  college  trustees,  even  went  so  far  as  to  divide  up  his  land 
into  lots  in  his  zeal  in  the  cause.  The  scheme  never  matured,  how- 
ever. 

These  young  men.  the  B brothers,  erected  a  building  near  the 

railroad  track,  and  had  it  almost  ready  for  business.  In  fact,  on 
the  morrow  the  place  was  to  be  occupied,  and  its  career  of  iniquity 
begun.  .Imagine  the  surprise  of  the  young  proprietors  on  this 
inaugural  day  to  find,  when  they  visited  the  spot  in  the  morning, 
that  every  vestige  of  the  building  had  disappeared !  The  author- 
ship of  the  destruction  has  always  been  shrouded  in  mystery; 
otherwise  some  of  the  offenders  might  have. been  brought  to  justice, 
for  even  the  most  zealous  advocates  of  temperance  here  are  so  con- 
servative and  law-abiding  that  they  will  not  countenance  such 
destruction  of  property.  One  of  the  editors  of  Oberliniana  was 
successful  in  solving  the  mystery,  however.  The  mischief  was  done 
by  neighborhood  people  almost  exclusively.  One  of  the  ring-lead- 
ers of  the  affair  was  one  of  the  few  citizens  of  Oberlin  who  are 
addicted  seriously  to  drinking,  and  he  was  probably  actuated  by 
the   motive   of  protecting   his  property,   which  was  near  by.     He 

succeeded  in  getting  the  B boys  to  go  to  town  and  spend  the 

night,  and  then  the  work  was  done.  The  timber  was  loaded  on 
wagons  and  carted  away  until  not  a  trace  of  the  structure  remained 
behind. 

Still  it  remained  a  mystery  for  some  time  as  to  where  the  build- 
ing had  been  conveyed.  Small  fragments  were  found  a  mile  or  two 
away,  but  the  bulk  of  it  was  carried  to  Black  River  and  committed 
to  the  current  of  that  stream.  A  few  days  later  the  debris  floated 
out  into  the  lake  at  Lorain,  O. 

*  * 

Another  somewhat  similar  case  is  reported.  One  morning  a 
saloonist,  who  had  possessed  the  audacity  to  establish  himself  on 


TEMPERANCE  BATTLES.  169 

S.  Main  street,  near  the  Methodist  church,  was  horrified  to  discover 
that  his  windows  had  been  broken  in,  and  the  kegs  of  liquor  therein 
removed  to  the  street  and  tapped.  These  cases  were  exceptional, 
however.  The  spirit  displayed  is  in  general  one  of  remarkable 
toleration  and  moderation.  All  sorts  of  ruses  are  adopted  on  the 
other  hand,  by  the  saloonists  who  would  offend  the  community. 
They  have  put  red  pepper  on  their  stoves  and  burned  it  there,  thus 
forcing  crusaders  to  retire.  They  have  insulted  ladies  and  treated 
gentlemen  with  brutalit3T,  when  there  was  no  offense  given  whatever. 
They  have  decoyed  minors  to  come  for  liquor,  and  then  showed  that 
it  was  all  a  conspiracy  to  lead  to  their  own  arrest  by  proving  that  the 
minors  were  in  the  ruse,  and  had  merely  left  the  liquor  there  to  call 
for  it.  Then  they  would  in  turn  sue  their  prosecutors  for  damages 
on  the  ground  of  malicious  prosecution — and  get  beaten.  The 
indignities  have  been  mainly  inflicted  by  these  acknowledged  ene- 
mies of  the  community. 


CHAPTP]R  XIV. 


THE  O BERLIN    OF   TO-DAY. 


A  great  m&ny  alumni  will  wonder,  particularly  at  the  Jubilee 
celebration,  whether  the  Oberlin  of  to-day  is  different  in  any 
respect  from  that  of  their  recollections.  For  the  benefit  of 
^  such,  the  following  impressions  of  an  alumnus  upon  paying 
'  a  recent  visit  to  the  institution  are  given.  It  may  be  inter- 
esting in  Later  years  to  review  this  Jubilee  peep  into  the  var- 
ious college  departments. 
_  What  is  Oberlin  to  the  boy  or  girl  who  comes  there  for  an  educa- 
tion in  1883V  Well,  old  alumnus,  as  you  are  here  before  the  crowd, 
let  us  step  around  and  see  for  ourselves.  Externally  things  are 
certainly  improved.  You  were  here  when  the  Ladies'  Hall  was 
completed  in  '65;  Council  Hall  was  added  in  '71;  and  there  is  the 
Soldiers'  Monument.  We  call  the  Campus  "  the  Park,"  now,  and  it 
begins  to  look  finely.  I  have  counted  about  fifty  good-sized  elms  in 
!it.  The  paved  street  from  the  depot  and  the  neat  walks  and  the 
|well  kept  lawns  have  made  such  changes  that  "Oberlin  mud  "  hard- 
ily sustains  its   old   reputation.     People   don't   fling   mud  at   us  so 


170  OBERLINIANA. 

much  as  they  once  did,  either.  This  clay  soil  is  said  to  be  th< 
cause  of  our  surprising  good  health  here.  Perhaps  the  mud  the;* 
used  to  throw  at  us  had  a  wholesome  effect  morally,  But  I  believ< 
we  do  as  well  without  it.  Oberlin  has  as  good  a  moral  atmospher< 
as  ever.  Of  course,  with  greater  advantages,  we  ought  to  improve 
Last  year  the  proportion  of  Christian  students  was  supposed  to  bi 
greater  than  ever  before,  and  we  have  the  largest  College  Y.  M.  C 
A.  in  the  world. 

But  I  want  to  show  you  the  intellectual  work  of  Oberlin  at  th< 
present  time.  No,  the  expenses  are  not  much  greater  in  proportioi 
than  they  were  when  you  were  here.  You  paid  .$1.50  for  board  an( 
room,  and  received  six  cents  an  hour  for  work.  Your  son  pays  $3.0< 
a  week  and  earns  fifteen  cents  an  hour.  The  term  bill  is  $10.00 
which  a  little  more  than  covers  the  actual  expenses  of  care  of  build 
ings,  and  grounds,  fuel,  office  work,  etc.,  so  that  tuition  is  virtually 
free.  The  average  expense  for  the  four  years  with  the  class  of  '81 
was  $900.00,  a  quarter  of  the  class  earning  their  own  way.  Tin 
country  is  richer,  and  parents  are  able  to  help  their  children  more 
but  a  large  majority  help  themselves  more  or  less,  and  the  Socrata 
sentiment,  that  work  is  no  disgrace,  will  alwa}Ts  prevail  here. 

Did  you  notice  the  requirements  for  admission  to  college?  Thei 
you  saw  that  we  have  not  fallen  behind  in  the  standard  of  scholar 
ship.  And  they  are  not  paper  requirements.  A  considerable  pa 
cent,  of  applicants  for  admission  are  put  in  the  Senior  Preparatory 
class,  and  college  students  are  conditioned  and  put  back  every  term 
There  isn't  a  newfangled  notion  on  education  that  is  not  discussel 
here,  and  the  best  of  it  put  in  practice.  Members  of  the  Facultj 
keep  up  a  Greek  Club,  and  a  Latin  Club,  and  there  is  a  Sciential 
Club  that  only  lacks  the  name. 

It  will  do  you  good  to  go  through  Council  Hall  and  see  the  mer 
and  methods.  There  is  Professor  Ballantine,  a  real  Oberlin  man 
but  who  happened  to  graduate  at  Marietta  and  Union,  sending 
his  classes  to  the  board  with  their  English  Bibles  to  write  in  Hebrew 
any  verse  he  may  call  for.  There  is  Professor  G.  Frederick  Wright. 
at  present  holding  the  chair  of  N.  T.  Language  and  Literature  ir 
the  Theological  Seminary,  who  is  not  less  widely  known  as  an  au- 
thority in  the  Logic  of  Christian  Evidences  than  in  the  fields  oi 
science.  A  contributor  to  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra,  his  defence  ol 
President  Finney's  theology,  Juty  1876,  against  the  attacks  of  Prof 
Hodge,  of  Princeton,  is  searching  and  complete.  As  the  tracer  oui 
of  the  terminal  moraine  of  the  great  Ice  Age,  through  the  Easter^ 
States,  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  lie  has  settled  many  difficult  prob 
lems,  and  has  earned  a  world-wide  reputation  for  his  successfu 
investigations.     The  following  is  a   partial    list  of  his    works:     1 


THE  0BERL1N  OF  TO-DAY.  171 

Studies  in  Science  and  Religion;  2.  The  Logic  of  Christian 
Evidences;  3.  Death  and  Probation;  any  one  of  which  may  be 
obtained  of  E.  J.  Goodrich,  Oberlin,  O.  Prof.  Wright  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  class  of '59,  a  class  which  numbers  many  other  notable 
names.  In  the  next  room  is  Professor  Judson  Smith,  the  man  Am- 
herst and  Andover  have  tried  so  hard  to  get,  characterizing  with 
his  nervous  energy,  old  Hildebrand,  or  summing  up  the  Council  of 
Chalcedon.  Yes,  Professor  Mead's  successor  is  the  Currier  of  the 
Monday  Club  Sermons.  He  is  pouring  all  his  rich  experience  and 
wide  observations  into  his  lectures  on  Pastoral  Theology  and  Homi- 
letics.  And  President  Fairchild,  candid,  clear,  full-orbed;  isn't  he 
the  ideal  man  for  Systematic  Theology?  If  you  should  come  at  the 
right  time  you  could  see  Chamberlain's  drill  in  elocution,  or  hear 
smne  successful  pastor  or  distinguished  specialist  from  abroad,  talk 
to  the  theologues. 

In  visiting  the  college  let  us  begin  with  Society  Hall.  The 
literary  societies  are  more  prosperous  than  ever.  Did  you  belong  to 
$.  A.  or  0.  J.?  The  three  societies  occupy  one  room  on  successive 
evenings.  The  rest  of  the  space  upstairs  is  devoted  to  the  College 
Library — shamefully  crowded — the  last  shelf  full  three  years  ago — 
16,000  volumes  well  selected.  Mr.  Matson,  of  '61,  gives  his  whole 
time  to  the  library,  and  the  humblest  student  in  the  institution  has 
the  benefit  of  his  judgement  and  experience  in  looking  up  any  sub- 
ject. Now  }^ou  may  hear  a  class  in  German  conversation,  conduct- 
ed by  Professor  Newton,  or  a  division  of  the  Senior  Preps,  in  Virgil, 
reciting  to  Tutor  Hall.  Or,  would  you  prefer  to  visit  the  Greek 
room?  The  walls  are  decked  with  busts  of  Grecian  gods  and 
orators.  This  is  all  the  result  of  the  restless  energy  of  Professor 
Frost,  the  youngest,  and  I  had  almost  said  the  most  enthusiastic 
and  progressive  member  of  the  present  Faculty.  We  shall  find  the 
Seniors  reading  Plato  at  sight,  or  the  Sophomores  struggling  with 
the  tragedians.  "  Two  plays  a  term,  or  three,  with  omissions,"  the 
catalogue  requires. 

In  French  Hall  we  shall  find  Professor  Churchill,  genial  as  ever, 
(no,  he  never  accepted  that  call,)  teaching  free-hand  drawing;  or  he 
may  be  in  the  park,  showing  the  adjustments  of  the  new  surveying 
instruments.  Professor  ShurtlefT  (Yes,  General  Shurtleff;  the 
same,)  is  telling  a  division  of  Sophomores  the  latest  discoveries  in 
Rome.  The  Latin  course  embraces  some  new  authors — Pliny's 
Letters,  Plautus,  Juvenal,  and  Lucretius.  Professor  Ellis  is  lec- 
turing to  the  Seniors  upon  the  sensibilities — supposed  to  be  a  pecu- 
liarly appropriate  topic  at  that  stage  of  the  course — or  patiently 
elucidating  the  principles  of  political  economy.  He  is  turning  gray. 
Yes,  metaphysics  is  still  the  most  absorbing  study  in  the  course. 


172    ■  OBERLINIANA. 

We  have  no  time  to-day  for  a  look  at  Miss  Wyett's  classes  in  draw- 
ing and  painting,  .or  Principal  White's  alert  class  in  Homer's  Iliad. 
A  graduate  of  a  German  university,  who  visited  here  a  few  weeks 
ago,  said  in  a  public  address  that  the  work  of  our  Senior  Prepara- 
tory and  Freshman  classes  in  Greek  come  the  nearest  to  the  work  in 
the  German  Gymnasia  of  anj^thing  he  had  seen  in  this  country. 

In  the  Old  Laboratory  Mrs.  Johnston  is  illustrating  Guizot  from 
her  extensive  travels,  to  the  delight  of  the  Fourth  Years;  or  Miss 
Nettleton  is  teaching  United  States  History. 

But  there  is  the  bell  for  Thursday  lecture,  and  we  have  not 
nearly  completed  our  rounds.  Have  you  seen  the  chapel  since  the 
seats  were  arranged  in  an  amphitheater?  Well  it  is  a  delightful 
room.  And  such  music !  There  is  not  another  place  in  the  world 
where  you  can  hear  a  thousand  voices  carrying  all  the  parts  every 
evening.  Professor  Rice  has  made  this  Conservatory  an  immense 
affair.  There  are  three  hundred  students  every  year  who  come  for 
music  alone.  The  chapel  seats  nearly  a  thousand,  and  frequently 
overflows.  There  were  1493  students  here  during  the  last  year,  and 
the  higher  classes  are  larger  than  ever  before — 202  in  the  classical 
course,  164  in  the  literary.  The  Classical  Preparatory  school  is 
well  manned,  and  is  the  largest  fitting  school  in  the  countiy.  It  is 
worth  something  to  be  associated  with  such  a  company  of  young- 
people.  They  come  from  fifty-three  states  and  countries.  There 
are  sixteen  colleges  in  the  Ohio  Association,  and  Oberlin  actually 
brings  more  students  from  outside  into  the  State  than  the  other 
fifteen  put  together.  The  colored  students  once  constituted  eight 
per  cent,  of  the  whole,  but  recently  only  about  five  per  cent.  Some 
of  them  are  among  the  brightest.  What  will  the  Thursday  lecture 
be  about?  Something  important,  no  doubt.  These  lectures  are 
conducted  for  the  general  good  of  being,  and  embrace  every  subject 
of  interest  to  mankind.  We  frequently  have  distinguished  men 
from  abroad,  like  Bronson  Alcott,  Secretary  Strong,  Secretary  Hay 
den,  Professor  Orton.  Wm  M.  Taylor,  etc,  but  really  depend  upon 
t  he  Faculty. 

Now,  you  thought  that  Oberlin  was  getting  rich;  you  begin  to 
see  that  while  the  resources  are  much  greater  than  they  once  were, 
the  work  accomplished  is  also  much  greater.  As  the  President 
said  in  his  last  report :  "It  would  not  be  extravagant  to  say  that  we 
are  trying  to  do  the  work,  in  quantity  and  qualit}7,  of  a  first-class 
university."  But  whatever  is  done,  is  clone  honestly,  We  don't 
call  ourselves  a  university,  nor  do  we  adopt  university  methods  with 
college  students.  There  is  a  good  range  of  electives,  but  a  man 
can't  elect  to  omit  the  most  important  studies  in  the  course. 

But  you  have  not  yet  seen  the  scientific  departments  at  all.     The 


THE  OBERLIN  OF  TO-DAY.  173 

v 
laboratories  where  each  student    performs    his   own    experiments. 

manages  his  own  microscope,  and  really  stiulies  the  carefully  ar- 
ranged cabinets,  we  will  visit  to-morrow. 


In  a  long  editorial  which  appeared  in  the  Advance  two  years  ago 
last  fall  the  following  words  were  used:  President-elect  Garfield's 
remark,  "  I  know  of  no  place  were  scholarship  has  touched  the 
nerve-center  of  public  life  so  effectually  as  at  Oberlin,"  is  a  signal 
illustration  of  the  promise,  "  Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord,  * 
*  *  and  he  shall  bring  forth  thy  righteusness  as  the  light."  The 
key  to  Oberlin' s  history  is  her  sublime  devotion  to  righteousness. 
Founded  with  an  evangelistic  aim,  deeply  earnest  in  piety,  she  im- 
periled her  very  existence  for  the  sake  of  the  oppressed.  But, 
never  swerving  from  her  original  purpose,  she  has  come  out  victor- 
ious and  invigorated.  The  persecutions  encountered  have  devel- 
oped in  her  a  toughness  of  moral  fiber,  a  solidity  and  elevation  of 
moral  tone,  and  an  unfading  glow  of  religions  fervor,  which  espe- 
cially fit  her  to  deepen  the  moral  convictions  of  the  young,  to  give 
them  a  high  conception  of  life,  and  inspire  them  with  earnestness 
to  realize  it. 

Her  contribution  to  the  ministry*  is  unequalled:  Yale  sending 
eight,  Williams  eleven,  Amherst  twenty-two,  and  Oberlin  thirty- 
eight  per  cent,  of  her  male  graduates  into  it.  The  New  England 
churches  have  in  preparation  for  the  ministry  one  man  for  every 
fifteen  hundred  members;  the  Ohio  churches,  largely  molded  by 
Oberlin,  have  one  man  to  every  four  hundred  and  ninety-five  mem- 
bers— a  ratio  reached  in  no  other  State.  Most  of  these  find  their 
fields  in  the  West.  To  aid  Oberlin  is  to  furnish  men  to  the  Home 
Missionary  Society.  Since  the  war,  Oberlin  has  sent  into  the  uni- 
versities and  schools  for  the  freedmen  ten  times  as  many  teachers 
as  any  other  school.  Money  invested  in  Oberlin  gives  powerful 
support  to  the  American  Missionary  Association.  The  investiga- 
tions of  two  of  her  sons,  Professors  F.  V.  Hayden,  of  Washington, 
and  Elisha  Gra}^  of  Chicago,  have  not  only  promoted  science,  but 
contributed  immensely  to  the  material  interests  of  the  country." 


Joseph  Cook  is  a  great  friend  of  the  college.  In  the  course  of  his 
lecture  at  Chautauqua  on,  "The  Teachings  of  Plymouth  Rock,"  he 
18.  id: 

'It  was  Puritanism  in  the  form  of  Congregationalism  which 
)lanted  the  common  school  in  the  rocky  soil  of  New  England.  It 
(vas  Puritanism  in  the  form  of  Congregationalism  that  founded  Yale, 


174  OBEELINIANA. 

and  Amherst,  and  Williams,  and  Dartmouth,  and  Harvard  itself. 
It  was  Puritanism  which  tounded  Oberlin,  one  of  the  most  glorious 
names  among  the  colleges  of  the  West.  I  had  almost  said  that,  if 
I  were  to  single  out  to-day  the  collegiate  institution  which,  better 
than  any  other  represents  the  spirit  of  New  England  and  Puritan- 
ism, I  should  affirm  that  that  institution  is  Oberlin.  At  an  early 
day  Oberlin  was  right  on  slavery.  It  is  right  on  temperance  and 
all  moral  reform.  It  is  right  on  what  are  called  the  minor  vices, 
some  of  which,  by  the  way,  are  practiced  only  too  freely  in  the  col- 
leges which  call  themselves  Christian.  Oberlin  does  not  long  keep 
a  young  man  in  her  circle  that  tipples.  Indeed,  she  drops  from  her 
lists  any  man  who,  after  being  warned,  continues  the  use  of  the 
filthy  weed  called  tobacco.  Oberlin  shuts  up  her  whisky-shops. 
Oberlin  will  not  have  her  youth  tempted.  If  to-day  }rou  want  an 
illustration  of  what  I  mean  by  the  Puritan  spirit,  take  Oberlin. 
When  I  stand  on  the  Oberlin  platform  to  lecture,  the  institution 
seems  to  me  like  that  marvelous  Pantheon  in  Rome  where  there  is  a 
window  in  the  dome  between  the  head  of  the  observer  and  the  sky. 
In  this  church — an  old  Roman  structure,  where  Raphael  lies  buried 
— there  is  an  opening  through  which  you  look  directly  out  into 
God's  azure.  I  go  into  some  other  colleges,  and  find  the  dome  really 
closed  and  illuminated  by  figures  of  the  great  among  men  in  the 
intellectual  and  monal  world.  I  go  to  Oberlin  and  look  through  an 
open  window  in  the  top  of  the  dome  of  severe  culture,  and  find  God. 
In  that  attitude  I  would  have  the#  whole  civilization  of  our  land. 
This  is  Puritanism,  free,  open  thought,  looking  into  the  eye  of 
Heaven,  and  acting  out  in  Church  and  State  all  it  learns  from  the 
Heavenly  vision." 


Henry  M.  Field,  writing  for  the  New  York  Evangelist,  in  a  long 
and  eloquent  tribute  to  Oberlin,  says:  "The  college  is  thoroughly 
democratic.  A  gentleman  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  institu- 
tions throughout  the  country,  said  to  us  recently,  '  Oberlin  is  the 
only  college  in  the  United  States  where  there  is  absolutely  no  caste.' 
No  man  is  above  his  brother,  except  as  he  proves  superiority  by  his 
largeness  of  brain  or  power  of  character.  Nor  does  it  matter  whe- 
ther the  '  brother '  be  white  or  black,  for  although  Oberlin  was  not 
founded  as  a  college  for  blacks,  yet  there  was  never  any  '  color  line.' 
'  A  mon's  a  mon  for  a'  that.' " 


The  Rev.  W.  H.  Bidwell,  for  so  long  a  time  editor  of  the  Eclectic, 
in  a  letter  to  the  New  York  Evangelist,  wrote  as   follows  regarding 


THE  OBERLIN  OF  TODAY.  175 

Oberlin:  "No  college  in  the  world,  within  my  knowledge,  has 
grown  up  to  manhood  in  so  short  a  time,  and  accomplished  so  much 
good.  It  began  life  amid  hard  struggles,  with  narrow  means  and 
great  self  denial.  It  was  the  vigorous  offspring  of  eminent  Chris- 
tian parentage,  and  was  earl}'  baptized  into  the  name  of  the  Father, 
Son  and  Holy  Ghost.  It  was  nursed  and  nurtured  amid  prayers 
and  tears  for  the  Divine  benediction,  and  has  grown  up.  in  the  warm 
atmosphere  of  continual  revivals,  and  the  songs  of  new-born  souls, 
till  the  present  time.  Oberlin  did  not  happen.  It  had  a  sacred  ap- 
pointment in  the  cause  of  literature  and  religion,  under  a  new  and 
modern  departure.  It  came  into  being  in  a  primeval  forest,  within 
hearing  of  the  midnight  howlings  of  the  wolf.  Its  home-plot  was 
three  miles  square.  The  forest  trees  stepped  aside  to  make  room 
for  the  new  comer.  Human  voices  were  heard;  human  habitations 
reared  their  framework;  and  soon  the  clarion  voice  and  thrilling 
tones  of  Charles  G.  Finney,  the  matchless  preacher  and  man  of  God, 
were  heard  all  around,  and  Oberlin  became  a  living,  moving  and 
breathing  institution  of  religion  and  sacred  learning." 


L'ENVOI. 


H 


AVE  we  enemies?  Now  can  they  rejoice,  for  we  have  writ- 
ten a  book!  Our  work  is  finished,  and  as  we  look  back 
upon  the  past  weeks'  labors,  visions  of  fruitless  interview- 
J  ing,  of  the  searching  of  many  books,  of  the  writing  of  many 
jjjts  letters,  of  the  midnight  oil,  came  crowding  upon  us.  Our 
volume  is  not  as  comprehensive  as  we  could  have  wished ; 
the  pages  do  not  show,  perhaps,  the  time  and  work  expended  upon 
them; but  a  great  feeling  of  satisfaction  steals  over  us,  giving  a 
genial  glow  to  all  these  visions  of  ours.  We  have  edited  a  book — 
that  alone  is  sufficient  to  stir  the  soul.  If  we  make  but  one  alumnus 
happy;  if  but  one  grey-haired  matron  smiles  over  these  recollections 
of  old  times;  if  but  one  student  sees  some  of  his  own  life  reflected 
from  its  pages;  if  but  one  poet  rises  up  and  calls  us  blessed  for  hav- 
ing immortalized  his  verse — it  is  enough ! 

Go  forth;  then  little  book!  product  of  wearisome  but  gladsome 
toil.  Go  forth  and  take  your  place  beside  the  thousands  of  other 
bound  pages  in  the  stores  and  libraries.  May  you  continue  to  be 
serviceable  long  after  your  authors  have  edited  other,  greater  and 
grander  works.  May  you  still  live  to  make  some  one  smile  after 
they  have  returned  to  dust.  Pathetic  thought!  we  shall  soon  dis 
!appear,  but  you — may  be  consigned  to  the  waste  basket. 

FINIS. 


OBERLIN  COLLEGE 

„  Department  of  Theology. 


Furnished  rooms  in  Council  Hali 
Board  $2.00  and  upwards.  Sufficien 
aid  for  those  needing  it. 


Instruction  in  this  department  is 
thorough  and  up  to  the  times.  Free  and 
vigorous  discussions  of  all  religious 
questions  by  the  students  themselves. 
A  special  interest  in  foreign  and  home 
missions  now  prevails. 

Department  of  Philosophy  and  the  Arts. 


CLASSICAL  COURSE. 

Requirements  for  admission : 

English:  The  Common  brancnes,  in- 
cluding English  Analysis  ;  United  States 
History  (Rid path's  preferred);  History 
of  Greece  and  Rome;  Science  of  Gov- 
ernment ( Alden ). 

Mathematics:  Arithmetic.  Olney's 
School  Algebra,  and  Plane  Geometry, 
( Wentworth's  preferred ). 

Lvtin:  Grammar  (Allen  and  Grecn- 
ough's  preferred;;  Ccesar,  two  books; 
Cicero,  five  orations;  Virgil,  six  books; 
Sallust's  Catiline,  or  Cicero's  De  Senec- 
tute  ;  Jones'  Latin  Prose  Composition. 

Greek:  Grammar  (Hadley's  pre- 
ferred); Anabasis,  three  brtoks;  Iliad, 
three  books;  Jones'  Greek  Prose  Com- 
position. 

Students  deficient  in  Greek  are  ad- 
mitted if  they  are  in  advance  in  some 
other  studies,  and  make  up  the  Greek 
afterwards. 


Annual  Examinations  for  admissio 
to  College  for  1883,  June  25,  26  snd  27 
also  September  11,  at  9  a.  m. 

E'ectivestudies  during  the  Sophomore 
and  Junior  years  One  hundred  aiu 
fifty  young  men  and  fifty-two  young  wo 
men  are  pursuing  this  course. 

LITERARY  COURSE. 

Candidates  for  admission  to  the  Firs 
year  are  examined  in  English  Gramma 
and  Analysis;  Arithmetic;  01ney: 
School  Algebra ;  Latin  Grammar,  Jonea 
Reader;  Ctesar,  fourth  book;  Jones 
Latin  Composition,  twenty  lessons 
Ridpath's  History  of  the  United  States 
Geography. 

Candidates  for  advanced  classes  willb 
examined  in  the  previous  studies  of  th 
course. 

Elective  studies  during  the  Second  an( 
Third  vears. 


Department  of  Music. 
The  Conservatory  enjoys  great  advan-  lie  Rehearsals  weekly 
tages,  religious,  intellectual  and  social, 
from  its  connection  with  the  other  de- 
partments of  the  Institution.  The 
Course  of  Study  is  desig  led  to  secure  a 
symmetrical  mu  ical  education,  and  em- 
braces Theory,  Piano  Forte.  Singing  and 
Voice  Culture,  Organ  and  Violin.     Pub- 


Choice  and  ami 
pie  Musical  Library.  "  This  Conservators! 
may  fairly  claim  to  be  the  leading  school 
<>f  music  for  the  Interior  and  the  West. 
Expenses  very  moderate.  Thirteen  lis 
structors,  besides  Lecture  s.  Diplom 
on  completion  of  course. 


Department  of  Preparatory  Instruction. 
Classical  School,  attendance  306;  English  School,  attendance  40*i 


These  schools  are  under  the  general 
supervision  of  the  College,  and  the  im- 
mediate charge  of  Professor  Geo.  H. 
White,  and  a  large  corps  of  assistants. 
They  afford  the   best  opportunities  for 

General  Information 
Each  recitation  and  term  examination 
is  marked  and  recorded.  Libraries,  cab- 
inets, laboratories,  and  all  other  facili- 
ties P>est  opportunities  of  hearing  good 
music  nnd  first-class  lecturers.  Vocal 
music  free.  Course  of  lectures  by  the 
Faculty  and  invited  speakers  throughout 


: 


preparation    for    a  college  or    literar 
course,  or  for  such  select  studies  as  con- 
stitute the  usual  Normal  or  Academical 
course. 


the  year.  Literary  societies  unrivalled. 
Term  bills,  $10  00.  Board  $2.00  and  up- 
wards. Spring  term  opens  Tuesday, 
April  10;  Fall  term,  Tuesday,  Sept.  11 
For  particulars  address 


J.  B.  T.  MARSH,  Sec,  Oberlin,  0 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


